Situated on high ground adjacent to the Mississippi River, Magnolia Mound was a working plantation established in 1791. Today, Magnolia Mound’s mission is to illustrate and interpret the French Creole lifestyle through educational programs, workshops, lectures, festivals and other special events.
The design intent for the project is to emphasize the importance of site and topography as it relates to Magnolia Mound. The minimal intervention seeks to elevate the existing historic buildings and site by establishing a clear threshold for visitors as they circulate around the base of the mound. As one transitions through the new visitor center and ascends to the top of the mound, the building merges with the landscape to become unobtrusive and imperceptible. The top of the new structure aligns with the elevation of the high ground of the mound, establishing a datum which links old and new architecture on site.
Location
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Status
Completed 2018
Size
4,000 SF
Project Team
Trey Trahan, Brad McWhirter, Mark Hash, Ben Rath, Michael McCune, Kim Nguyen, Sarah Cancienne
Collaborators
Jon Emerson, CVE Design, AST Engineers, McLaren Engineering Group, ABMB Engineers, Lord Cultural Resources, Omega General Construction, Lippincott Sculpture, TriPyramid Structures
Videography
Spirit of Space
Awards
Architecture MasterPrize, Cultural Architecture, 2019
AIA Louisiana Merit Award for Architecture, 2017
AIA New Orleans Honor Award for Architecture, 2017
Tags
Cultural , Hospitality , Rootedness , Materiality , Openness
Translucent channel glass was selected to subtly obscure occupants within and around the new building like an impressionist painting – blurring the distinction between new and old, building and landscape.
The museum display cases were designed as a complimentary element to the new architectural intervention. Inspired by the work of Donald Judd and Sol Lewitt, these solid aluminum fixtures attempt to bridge between sculpture, furniture and architecture; providing storage space, display opportunities, and point of sale.
