BIG proposed leaning the facades of the building outwards until the inclination reaches the average angle of the sun, the facades dodge the sun rays and rest in the shade of the building itself. Due to the relatively high average position of the sun on the sky the total sun exposure can be reduced dramatically at relatively small inclinations. The resulting building volume is a sort of inverted pyramid with the apex buried deep in the desert sand.
BIG NYC has called Dumbo home since . The , sq ft full floor office wraps around an interior courtyard and houses nearly BIGsters. BIGs interior design team led a complete renovation of the space over six months: interior walls were removed to accommodate the open-plan design, which includes ample room for an architectural model workshop, an exhibition hallway, meeting rooms, a canteen, a library and recreational space.
Located in the visual axis of the Notre Dame Cathedral in a dense context of university buildings from different historical periods, BIG proposes a building geometry that adapts to the specific conditions of all adjoining sides, optimized for daylight, views and accessibility. The three-dimensional envelope retracts from the neighboring facades, opens up towards the square of Institut du Monde Arabe and the park, and folds into a publicly accessible rooftop landscape, resulting in an adapted sculptural building volume.
Based on extensive feedback from the community, BIG’s vision for the Smithsonian Institution masterplan seeks to improve and expand existing facilities; create clear connections, access points and visibility between the museums and gardens; and to replace aging building mechanical systems that have reached the end of their lifespan, including structural reinforcements of the Castle to withstand potential seismic activity.
Running from January through August , Hot to Cold marked BIGs first major North-American exhibition offering a behind-the-scenes look at BIGs creative process and how the studios designs are shaped by cultural and climatic contexts. More than architectural models, mock-ups and prototypes were suspended at the second-floor balconies of the museums historic Great Hall, turning the architecture of the National Building Museum into the architecture of the exhibition.