The AtheneumArchitect : Richard Meier & Partners Architects

Location: New Harmony – Indiana – United StatesPrepared by: Khaled Almusa

Contrast between Void and Solid

Continuity

The Elevations Express the Function of the building

Its all solid around the entranceThis will give dominance

to the entrance

and it will be a Focal Point

Focal Point

There is balance between the void and solid

To give attention to the outside view( The river )

The back side of the Athenaeum is all solid

No need for windows in the back sideBecause there is a theater inside

(The Elevations Express the Function of the building)

The Ramp leads to the theater in the second level instantly to regulates the movement inside the Athenaeum because of the large number of visitors.

Ground level In the plans we can see the primary shapes that Meier relied upon ( Square , Triangle ).

He Connected the primary shapes with a curve Simulating the river view .

Second level

The movement components are organized to make the entry and exit process more comfortable for the visitors.

Theater Exhibitions

We can also notice that Richard Meier Reflected the movement in the site

Third level

Richard Meier is one of the world’s foremost architects to have furthered the modernist

language while choosing to dress almost all of his designs solely in white.

The Athenaeum is Colored only in white. The Athenaeum draws attention to its shape while comfortably standing out amidst the surrounding greenery.

Meier’s design elaborates on Le Corbusier’s, which is why many classify his designs as Neo-Corbusian.