Making the entrance to Folkets Hus Mustadfors visible through awe
From a distance it resembles stars on the facade.
Research says that when we experience awe, we become more empathetic, present and feel a greater connection with the world around us. In my thesis project, I wanted to explore how to apply wonder in an architectural context. I also wanted my thesis to be in dialog with and meet someone’s needs. Therefore, I contacted Folkets Hus Mustadfors (FHM). A problem FHM met when inviting to their activities was that visitors perceived the entrance unintuitive and rather invisible.
The aim of the project has been to create wonder with design in order to make the entrance more visible and welcoming. In this project gilded faceted shapes were made to be placed on FHM façade for this purpose. The closer to the entrance, the more and denser the facets should be placed. The amount of facets increase in amount gradually as the visitor moves closer to the entrance.
As the facets reflect differently depending on the weather and lighting, they form a changing play of light that make the house visible from a distance and creates a movement towards the entrance. Up close, a visitor who has moved towards the entrance and reaches out to open the door suddenly find themself standing under a vaulted ceiling of shining gold. The ceiling is designed in such a way that the golden surface is only visible when you stand almost under it, so it is experienced as a portal of warmth and light into FHM.
