LE HAVRE MUSEUM OF DIVERSITY

As a port city, Le Havre has always been an epicentre of cultural diversity. Over its history, millions of people from all over the world have visited its shores. While the Brise-Vent once stood to protect Le Havre from ocean gales, allowing the cities trade and industry to flourish; it can now be re-imagined as the structure to support the preservation, celebration and expression of cultural diversity. It will do so as the structural and programmatic spine of the Le Havre Museum of Diversity. Cultural diversity flows like water as it permeates a new community, enriching it with vibrancy. This influence begins small, with just a few drops, just a few people. However, it eventually rises as more arrive to express their culture. This culminates into a wave that permeates into the city. As cultural diversity mimics water, so to the Museum of Diversity emulates the flow of water in its form and function. The program weaves through the Brise-Vent following the natural path encouraged by the existing voids in its structure. Furthermore, the building mass smoothly rises in a fluid form like a wave rising from the sea. The resultant flowing massing pays homage to the flow of water and diversity that inspires it. Pragmatically the building form demonstrates the complex and dynamic form achievable with concrete, which is of great historical relevance to Le Havre and the Brise-Vent itself. Although in this case, the concrete has been given a lighter tone to provide a more modern and unique aesthetic compared to the Brise-Vent. Thus, it compliments the Brise-Vent, while differentiating itself respectfully. Furthermore, in both form and program the Museum of Diversity respects and celebrates the Brise-Vent. The wave form allows the Brise-Vent to be proudly visible, penetrating up through the new building form. Moreover, the buildings program flows through the existing structure ensuring it is showcased and gracefully re-purposed. The Museum of Diversity conceptualizes that the five cornerstones of cultural diversity are; artifacts, music and dance, food, language, and religion. The museum offers several gallery spaces which will be dedicated to the celebration, preservation and presentation of cultural diversity from all over the world. However, perhaps more importantly, the museum will be a hub for the continued expression of diversity. The workshops will allow users to create culturally unique artifacts such as textiles, pottery and art works which can be sold in the marketplace. Music and dances from all over the world can be learned, performed and recorded in spaces dedicated to this use. Similarly, the Language Center will offer, information and lessons to those who want to embrace the language of another culture. In addition, religious practices of all faiths are welcome within the Worship Center. Finally, the Dining Hall will offer unique international cuisine from around the world, allowing guests to enjoy the cultural food of their choosing. As a result, The Museum of Diversity will become globally recognized for its preservation, celebration and expression of cultural diversity.

Diversity flows like water, weaving within and without of the Brise-Vent, rising up like a wave. This inspires the form and programmatic layout of the museum. The design conceptualizes the five cornerstones of diversity; language, artifacts, music + dance, religion and food + drink. The flow of these cornerstones create the basis for the wave of cultural diversity which overtakes the Bries-Vent.

The massing of the Museum of Diversity begin by using the Brise-Vent as its structural base and inspiration. The intention was to use the Brise-Vent as the core of the facility, both structurally and programmatically. Next it was necessary to define the additional spatial needs which would extrude out from the core. Once these were defined pragmatically, they were massaged to allow for the massing to weave in and through the Brise-Vent. This fluid two-dimensional form was then raised up to create a three-dimensional mass. It was very important that this mass be substantial enough in height to provide exceptional volumes of space within, but also be short enough to ensure the Brise-Vent maintained its hierarchical right as the tallest part of the structure. In order for the fluid form to truly be understood, it was next necessary to create a curvature to the facade, in this way, the mass provides a vertical sense of wave on all facades. Next it was imperative that the building mass be reduced vertically to create the rising wave form. Just as a wave starts low and rises up, so the massing begins low, touching the earth on the east side and then slowly it undulates upwards to its high crest on the west side, thereby mimicking the rising form of a wave. Finally, no wave is complete without its crest. This was created by ensuring the mass cantilevered over the site at the pinnacle of its height. Thus, The Wave is ready crash into the city of Le Havre inundating it with a rich flow of culture + diversity.

Food + Drink, Religion, Music + Dance, Artifacts + Language comprise the cornerstones for the expression of cultural diversity. The celebration and presentation of diversity occurs within the numerous gallery spaces. In addition, spaces focused on the cornerstones of diversity are weaved throughout the Brise-Vent. Semi-private + support spaces are placed within the existing structure, while more public spaces run along its north and south facades. Thus the Brise-Vent serves as an ideal structure for the preservation, support and celebration of cultural diversity. Accessibility is of the utmost importance in the Museum of Diversity. An accessible path of travel meanders its way up and through-out the entire museum. Physically manifesting the conceptual flow of water + diversity. There are also accessible paths which flow up and down through the Worship Center and the Digital Immersion Gallery. This ensures all facilities in the museum are available to everyone. In addition, a public pathway flows over the roof of the museum allowing anyone to easily experience "The Wave" and the spectacular views of the harbor.