serie architects: the monsoon club

'the monsoon club' by serie architects at the kennedy center for the performing arts in washington D.C., USA
all images courtesy serie architects


london and mumbai-based practice serie architects (christopher lee, kapil gupta) has completed
'the monsoon club' a multi-purpose performance space at the kennedy center in washington, D.C., USA.
conceived as an installation piece, the conversion project of the terrace gallery features a three-dimensional
carpet which has been suspended over the main space, creating a dynamic and intimate atmosphere for
the venue. the project has been designed for the maximum india festival and will be on display from
1 march - 20 march, 2011.



overall view


constructed out of a system of coloured threads, the undulating form organized, defines and accentuates
the space while holding and concealing necessary technical equipments. the visual pattern of the threads
is influenced by traditional 'dhurries', a type of flat-woven rug in india, creating a contextually-sensitive
design that lends the gallery a new identity. altogether comprised of four different colours - white and
three shades of blue - the installation casts a multi-hued ambiance to the space.



detail


the physical construction of the installation required over 2 months of work by 20 individuals - 5 staff
members from serie architects and 15 students. 120 plywood panels serve as the underlying structural system,
featuring a pixilated grid of 150 mm diameter perforations that hold the more than million threads.
a complex network of tagging and coding was required for the success of the assembly.



(left) after assembly
(right) in use






rendered view



exploded axo of components


project info:

use: multi-purpose hall installation
total area: 350 m2
design team: christopher lee, kapil gupta, bolam lee, martin jameson
project team: abdulla yoosufali, aditya pawar, amit arya, anusha bajpai,
donny prijatna, pranav chahande, renu gupta, suril patel, santosh thorat,
satish saklani, sunil thukrul, suruchi agarwal

installation team: akshay zanjale, aniket shivagan, anish sawant, ashish nikam,
gourav gupta, gouresh hatale, harsahd darekar, haresh mandavkar, jennitta joseph,
megha bhatia, mangesh sanzgiri, manoj pawar, mayur tawade, neeta gurav,
ninad masaye, pritam acharekar, ramdas gorule, shiva iyer, sonam gala,
swapnil uttekar, vinayak joiel, zainab chauhan

lighting consultant: AWA lighting designers
supplier: N.S. arora & co
carpenters: deven mistry, digamber sutar, N P mistry, satish sutar, shivaji sutar
painters: anil suryavanshi, gorakh jadhav, jitendra kadam, prakash suryavanshi, sunil jadhav
on-site fabrication: stockwell & j.holdings