Interlude
Design 5, Fall 2024
Charleston, South Carolina
Professor: Mark McGlothlin
This project, a music conservatory, is a space where diverse communities come together to practice, perform, and celebrate music. Much like an interlude in a musical performance—a pause that offers reflection and connection—this building provides a moment of respite and inspiration in the urban fabric of Charleston. It provides a place where college students, children, and local residents can converge to share in the universal language of music.
Site Sketch
"Appalachian Spring" Mapping
I began this project by analyzing Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring." Collaborating with Julie Waldrop and Aleksandra Timofeeva, we mapped the composition’s mood and dynamics, translating its musical essence into visual form. Together, we created three distinct drawings, which we later synthesized into the following matrices. These matrices became a key influence on my process models, shaping the conceptual development and ultimate design of the building.
Site Analysis
Given the project’s location in the heart of Charleston—it was essential to create a design that served the diverse members of the community. The site is bordered by an elementary school to the east, the College of Charleston’s campus to the north, tourist-heavy areas to the south, and the bustling King Street to the west. The project welcomes each of these groups through its three main entrances.
Process Models
Utilizing the mappings and site analysis, I developed four process models, each exploring a distinct concept: circulation, overall form, spatial hierarchy, and contextual connections. These would assist me in developing the following floor plans and sections.
Initial sketches marking potential paths of circulation and entrances (in orange), as well as general programmatic zones.
Floor Plans
The project is located at a critical point in Charleston, where the city’s grid shifts directions. This meeting of roads became the starting point for the project, as the building metaphorically and physically acts as an intersection of ideas and communities. The diagonals within the project echo the changing road alignment, influencing the building’s organization and movement.
Elevations
Another central concept of the project is transparency–both visually and functionally. Practice spaces have more glass, bringing in natural light and inviting curiosity, while performance spaces–such as the black box theater, chamber recital hall, and 500 person auditorium–are more monolithic, signaling their focus on controlled acoustic experiences. On the western facade the vertical elements help to shade the windows while evoking the rhythmic waves of music, drawing from Copland's composition "Appalachian Spring."
South Elevation
North Elevation
West Elevation
Sections
Charleston’s streetscape also informed the design. The city’s narrow sidewalks and buildings that meet the edge of the street create a unique urban condition. To honor this, I designed the upper floors of the conservatory to extend close to the sidewalk, maintaining Charleston’s traditional edge. However, the first floor is recessed, creating a more welcoming experience for pedestrians and providing extra space for gathering. This approach balances Charleston’s character with a desire to make the building approachable and accessible.
Transverse A
Transverse B
Transverse C
Perspectives
Another priority was natural light. Nearly every space, including practice rooms, features access to daylight through windows, clerestory windows, or skylights. This emphasis on light creates an inviting atmosphere and enhances the experience of both practice and performance.
Section Perspective
Ultimately, this music conservatory reflects the essence of Charleston. It’s a place where private and public spaces intertwine, where discovery and community thrive, and where music becomes a unifying force that connects people. By respecting the city’s character while creating opportunities for gathering and creativity, the design aims to honor Charleston’s past while contributing to its cultural future.
