IWMN

• What is the form?

  Commemorative architecture - one of the branches within the IWM museums
• When did it open?

  2002
• What is the style?

  Deconstructivism = jutting angles + aluminium cladding
• Where is it located?

  Trafford Park, Manchester
• What is so special about the area?

  It was an important location for the manufacturing of military material = main target in the Manchester Blitz during WW2
• Who is the architect?

  Daniel Libeskind
• What is the inspiration for the framework?

  Broken teapot fragments, Libeskind sealed a round teapot in a plastic bag and dropped it out of the 4th floor windows of Berlin Studio.
• What do the 3 interlocking shards represent?

  Different conflict locations = Air, Earth and Water
• Give the critical text

  "Sense of loss" (Giles Worsley) - in conclusion
• Give a point about the entrance within the Air Shard

  Point: Functions as the museum’s entrance

  Reasoning: boasting small, “bunker-like” architecture through the simple square-framing which contrasts to tradition.

  Effect: Create an initial feeling of disorientation.

  
• Give a point about the tower within the Air Shard

  Point: Once entered, guided along a pathway to the main part of the Air Shard = is an empty and hollow 55m tall tower.

  Effect: Allowing visitor to be exposed to the elements within space that is neither inside nor outside, with unglazed slits piercing the walls.

  
• Give a point about the zinc clad lift + continue describing the tower

  Point: Can ride a zinc clad lift up the tower to a 29m high viewing platform. However, the walls are angled unnervingly at 4.5 degrees off centre.

  Effect: Highlights Libeskind continual aim to disorientate and confuse the visitor.
• Give a point regarding the Earth shard's function

  Point: Acts as the museum’s first-floor gallery, where permanent exhibitions are housed.
• Give a point about the features of the Earth shard

  Point (1): No natural light inside the main exhibition space and the effect of the cuts across the ceiling and the recessed lighting

  Effect (1): Emulate searchlights or even tracer bullets

  Point (2): Uses an environmentally friendly cooling system that alters the temperature at different points.

  Point (2): Intensify the visitor’s experiences

  
• Give a point about The Big Picture Show within the Earth shard

  Point: The Big Picture Show (which is a series of filmic installations) occurs for 10 minutes every hour on the 27 ft high walls.

  
  

  Effect: Grabs the visitor’s attention, guiding them to indulge on an impactful experience, causing the visitor to have a focused physical and emotional response. + installation contrasts to the traditional museum arrangements = allowing visitor to understand the effects of conflict, highlighting Libeskind conforms to storytelling atmosphere within the first – floor gallery.
• Give a point about the Water shard's "wave-like" forms, "ferry-like" windows and uneven walls/floorplan.

  Point (1): Undulates away from the building, arcing upward to recall the waves of the sea.

  Reasoning (1): “wake-like” forms help to generate a viewing platform for individuals to look onto the canal below.

  Point (2): Includes “ferry-like” windows

  Reasoning: (2): Reminiscent to the cargo liners that travelled the Manchester Ship Canal

  Point (3): Contains uneven walls/floorplan.

  Reasoning: Unsettle the visitor, reminding them of the purpose
• Give a point about the other amenities the Water shard offers its visitors

  Point: Also includes a restaurant, café and provides deck performance space as well.

  
• Give the conclusion point

  Aimed visitors to feel the unsettling nature of war throughout all 3 shards presented.