INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
CLASS: Architectural Studio IV
TERM: Winter 2014
PROF: Alice Guess
TERM: Winter 2014
PROF: Alice Guess
The International African American Museum, in the city of Charleston, SC, serves as a fresh public space of reflection and education. Located on the historical site of Gadsden’s wharf, this is the site where the majority of the slaves entered the United States. It is a perfect spot to commemorate the lives and memories of some of the first Americans and their descendants.
Due to this historical prevalence, an important part of the program is the archives, which aims to connect broken family trees and connect families with their ancestors. There is also ample space for galleries, a theater and plenty of outdoor spaces to gather and reflect on history.
My version of the museum aims to actualize experiences felt by African Americans in modern American society. As a decendant of the people this museum represents, I feel this is crucial to understanding the lasting impact of Gadsden’s Wharf. This is not just site analysis, this is the study of a plot of land that was the birth of strife and hardship, but also survival and resilience.
Due to this historical prevalence, an important part of the program is the archives, which aims to connect broken family trees and connect families with their ancestors. There is also ample space for galleries, a theater and plenty of outdoor spaces to gather and reflect on history.
My version of the museum aims to actualize experiences felt by African Americans in modern American society. As a decendant of the people this museum represents, I feel this is crucial to understanding the lasting impact of Gadsden’s Wharf. This is not just site analysis, this is the study of a plot of land that was the birth of strife and hardship, but also survival and resilience.
