Facade and exterior design, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA, in Jose Luis Sert building

Interactive Urban Image

The design of the Art Interactive gallery’s urban image, light control, ADA accessibility, and exterior exhibit system was the result of winning an open international design competition.
The flexible design weaves color, signage, and poetically “interactive” elements - reflective film and movable drapery - through the facade windows and exterior space, drawing attention to the gallery in a subtle, but playful way which honors the rhythm of the historic building.
The project was challenging because of its extremely low budget and unskilled volunteer labor, and very many restrictions:

Facade, Landscape, & Signage Design

Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA

For

The Art Interactive

International Competition Winner

Art Interactive International Exterior Facade Competition, April 2003

Materials & Dimensions

Windows: Reflective film, paint, blackout shades
Signage: plywood, aluminum, paint
Landscape: CMU, gravel
16′ tall x 160′ long walls
+ 1,000 sq ft landscape

Competition Media

  • + “Congratulations to Ioana Urma!”, Winnie Wong, AI:files, Issue 003, Summer 2003
  • + “Also of note” in “Gainsborough: portraits of an artist”, Joanne Silver, The Boston Herald, June 2003
  • + In “Foundations, Newsletter of the MIT Department of Architecture”, Stanford Anderson, May 2003
Signage design, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Signage design, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
The design of the Art Interactive gallery’s urban image, light control, ADA accessibility, and exterior exhibit system was the result of winning an open international design competition.
Before design, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Before
Competition design proposal, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Design Proposal
The original design conceived of the ground floor as an open space entered directly from the street. In time, the windows became covered oddly, and the very defined, main entrance became inaccessible because of its non-compliant step up, making the gallery appear closed.
Facade and exterior design competition boards, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Facade and exterior design competition boards, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
The competition entry proposed urban scale signage to redirect visitors to the actual back entrance; dark and strong colors within the window units - contrasting the white mullions - to make evident the beautiful (historic) window rhythm; and roll-up drapery to control transparency and change exhibits.
The flexible design weaves color, signage, and poetically “interactive” elements - reflective film and movable drapery - through the facade windows and exterior space, drawing attention to the gallery in a subtle, but playful way which honors the rhythm of the historic building.
Facade and exterior design, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA, in Jose Luis Sert building
Study model of facade and exterior design, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
The project was challenging because of its extremely low budget and unskilled volunteer labor, and very many restrictions:
Competition proposal, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA, in Jose Luis Sert building
Study model and drawing, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA, in Jose Luis Sert building
Front landscape redesign construction: gravel and CMU, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Almost all construction work was unskilled volunteer.
The original design conceived of the ground floor as an open space entered directly from the street. In time, the windows became covered oddly, and the very defined, main entrance became inaccessible because of its non-compliant step up, making the gallery appear closed.
Building side entry sign, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Big see through AI window sign, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Model study of yellow paint location, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Model study of yellow paint location,, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Materials on, in front of, and behind windows, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Model study of signage, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Model studies further developed the design after the competition.
The competition entry proposed urban scale signage to redirect visitors to the actual back entrance; dark and strong colors within the window units - contrasting the white mullions - to make evident the beautiful (historic) window rhythm; and roll-up drapery to control transparency and change exhibits.
Facade and exterior design, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA, in Jose Luis Sert building
Painting big see through AI window sign, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Ioana Urma’s competition announcement, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Model and sketch studies of materials, lighting, and signage, the Art Interactive Gallery, Cambridge, MA

Work/Credits

Design, Cost Estimates, Construction Supervision: Ioana Urma. Cost Estimate Assistant: Devin Cough. Construction: Emanuel Lewin & AI gallery volunteers (except 3M reflective film by 3M certified installer). Photos: Ioana Urma.