Grad School Project

2009

Critic: Ben Krone

The Social Distortion project re-conceptualized Avery Fisher Hall’s lobby and façade based on an approach to blur the lines between social hierarchies, high brow and low brow art, and an interest in the effects of musical distortion.  A found graphic was used in the design’s execution, specifically a microscopic view of tree bark, to reinforce the design concept.  The existing orthogonal façade was re-sampled in the form of a distorted matrix that skewed the idea of column and beam, beam or column. The design offers new views from the interior, exposes a VIP bar and restaurant in the basement level, and incorporates an open air pavilion.  In addition, a designated graffiti wall, à la Banksy, was designed for the lobby entrance to dynamically stage one of the world’s oldest art forms adjacent to ballet and operatic performances.