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Founded in 2004 NcC Studio Architecture believes that quality architecture must create a compelling environment as well as serve the functional requirements of the client. As LEED certified professionals we feel that concepts and techniques of sustainable design can be realized in a project of any scale and that the wisdom of nature can be guide to quality design that is both responsive to its environment and the needs of its’ occupants.
NcC Studio has designed award winning contemporary projects that are custom designed and detailed in every respect and traditional design work with great attention made to the appropriate historical details and materials. We are pleased to include every client we have had in our extensive list of references. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your project and bring your dream project to reality. We are confident that the end result will exceed your expectations. There is no charge for an initial consultation and fee proposal so why wait, give us a call at your convenience.
In 2006 NcC Studio in connection with RiverArts brought an Architecture Workshop to Kenneth Clark Academy at Saint Christopher’s. Students designed and built a structure that tells the story of major achievements in Kenneth Clark’s life through the use of architectural elements; stairs, walls, columns….
The St. Christopher residence/Kenneth Clark Academy in Dobbs Ferry serves just under 100 youth, 90% of whom come from disadvantaged homes in New York City and the other four southernmost counties of New York state. Within this population of residential and day students, 50% are victims of childhood trauma, 60% suffer from psychiatric conditions, and 100% struggle with learning differences severe enough to require an Individualized Educational Program. The educational, artistic and behavioral outcomes for this project reflect these demographics.
The goals of the project are to introduce students to the art and science of architecture and how it relates to their own lives, and to ameliorate any sense of cultural or social isolation experienced by students at St. Christopher’s within the larger community. For the special needs population of this school, the opportunity for students to design, implement and follow through on the project provides an invaluable opportunity for them to develop appropriate group/collaborative behaviors and social skills.
Due to the success of the this program NcC Studio received a grant from Westchester Arts Council in 2008 and again in 2010 to continue the Outreach program at St Christopher’s School. We have ambitions to create a permanent sculpture of suspended steel arcs draped in diaphanous scrims which will contain a projector which will project students artwork on the scrims.
All work by Niall Cain on this program is provided pro-bono. We are very proud of this Outreach Program. We feel very strongly about giving back to those in need in our community. When a student who likely never would have contemplated a career in architecture proclaims “ that’s architecture! I can do that!” that is our payment.
Please visit www.riverarts.org for information on this and other arts programs throughout the Rivertowns.
Westchester Home Magazine Home Design Awards 2013 Best Contemporary House O’Mara House
Westchester Home Magazine Home Design Awards 2012 Best Traditional Interior Klein House
Westchester Home Magazine Best of the Everything 2011 Best Design Orissa Restaurant
2011 Designer Showhouse of Westchester West Patent Road Estate Bedford NY
NCC Studio
5 Atilda Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY
914 478 3448
[email protected]
The European Education School Complex is a state of the art facility located on the grounds of Heraklion University in the Municipality of Voutes. This educational facility is designed to inspire, delight and educate its international student body through the following design features.
Two simple arcs form the parti, the principal organizing concept of the school complex. The arc forms are a direct response to the campus topography running the length and shape of the of the gentle valley shape of the site. Site specific environmental conditions including sun, wind and view conditions further inform the shape and massing of the building and campus. The rich Greek and Cretan culture and history are reflected and re-interpreted in the contemporary architectural form and vocabulary throughout the complex. State of the art materials and renewable energy technology is utilized throughout the campus and embraced as an educational concept for the students. The synthesis of these principal design concepts is the realization of a complex designed to provide the foundation for the highest quality educational environment.
As one approaches the school complex the freestanding columnar wall of aerotecture wind turbines are apparent signifying the bioclimatic theme of the campus. The columnar wall harkens back to the now freestanding columns of ancient Greek architecture.
The outer facades of the buildings facing the property boundaries and the internal university campus road feature a contemporary taught skin of eco-resin wood panels with a formal window rhythm and an overhanging roof. The principal northern entry leads to a central vehicular drop-off convenient to the entrances to the three schools and the administration. As one approaches the central access to the school building the formal facades open onto a central exterior atrium flanked by glass facades featuring movable bronze screens creating a fluid dynamic environment and a sanctuary of learning for the young students.
A new paradigm of the school–student relationship is realized through a building complex not only provides a state of the art learning environment but also teaches its occupants about the bio-climatic relationship that has become critically important in the 21st century and will hopefully inspire their creative dreams and capabilities as productive and responsible stewards of our natural environment.
The presentation panels provide a detailed description of the principal design characteristics outlined and summarized briefly here. The following pages contain detailed product information and a conceptual diagram of the screen patterns illustrating the dialogue of pattern and implied movement of the bronze screen walls and alternate design considerations.
National Museum of World Writing, Incheon Korea
Design Concept Summary
The National Museum of World Writing is an international venue designed to inform and delight visitors while providing a state of the art facility for writing research to further the understanding of humanities cultures and societies.
The exterior elements of the museum complex including the building exterior cladding and landscaping features, provide both a symbolic and literal education to the visitors of the complex. They are designed to inform and to draw visitors into the museum where educational programs and exhibits provide an in-depth exploration of the history and future of world writing and its impact on world culture.
Once inside the museum the spaces are designed for optimum flexibility for the visitor. The design permits access to the leisure, educational, performance and educational components of the building independent of one another but also provide a cohesive experience of the varied museum complex venues. Exhibits are envisioned as both conventional and multi-media interactive experiences providing a setting for the display of historic and contemporary artifacts and information as well as the results of future international research.
We have endeavored to create a building of international importance that provides a setting for international research at the highest level yet is inviting and open to the public of Songdo and its environs.
The principle goal of building and grounds of the National Museum of World Writing is to celebrate and promote social, cultural, educational understanding and diversity at both internationally and local level.
Design Description
The proposed design for the National Museum of World Writing in Incheon Korea features a striking contemporary form with a limestone base and bronze rain-screen cladding. The angular shape rising up from the stone base symbolizes the continuing evolution and importance of written language to the development of world cultures from the first prehistoric marking to our contemporary global community.
Stone Museum Base
The hammered finish of the Jerusalem Limestone base represents the initial markings in stone of humankind’s prehistoric ancestors first attempts to make markings that would provide glimpses into the history of the first attempts of the development of society and the urge to communicate through rudimentary markings. The shapes of the hammering are suggestive of the first markings found in the prehistoric Wad-el-Hol markings found in what is now Egypt.
Bronze Screen
A shimmering bronze screen encapsulates the exhibit spaces of the museum. The rain- screen cladding is formed with interlocking shapes based on prehistoric Jiahu symbols. These symbols are the first indication of written language discovered on the Asian continent dating back to 6600 BCE. The symbols chosen for the interlocking screen are modified to form the interlocking shapes that provide the striking cladding. Perimeter illumination is provided to create a glowing effect in the evening. Vertical windows of opalescent glass provide indirect light into the exhibit spaces. These interior panels in front of these windows glow form the perimeter throughout the galleries. These panel are also provide with electronic lighting for evening occupancy.
Folded Roof Skylight
The roof of the building features a folded roof plane which is visible throughout the interior spaces of museum building. This feature provides continuous indirect natural light into the exhibit spaces and the main floor lobby area. The slot in the ceiling is also illuminated mechanically for evening occupancy.
Main Floor
The main floor of the building contains the large lobby and ticketing area accessing the museum galleries above. The lobby is flanked by a large café and a retail area offering books and museum related items. The interior and exterior cafeteria seating is easily accessible to pedestrians and cyclists enjoying Incheon’s Central Park and are not intended to be exclusive to museum patrons. The main floor also contains the educational program elements of the museum. Although easily accessible from the park side entrance they are also accessible from the west entry which features a generous auditorium for lectures and performances. The educational and exhibition area of the building can be accessed separately and closed off easily from adjacent areas.
As part of the educational function of the museum the research and museum office areas are easily accessible to the public. Visitors are able to view into the research area to see and understand the inner working of the museum. The vertical multi-media exhibit space described below links the educational area visually to the exhibition floors above offering a glimpse into the into the exhibit areas above supported by the curators and researches in this area of the building.
Permanent Exhibit Space
The Permanent Exhibit area is exclusive to the second floor of the museum. It features a flexible multi-media display system permitting the display of both physical artifacts with reproductions including projected images. Audio systems are also integrated into the display system. Ample space is provided for the six exhibit themes which are tentatively indicated on the plan as the arrangement can easily be modified and organized in different arrangements by the curators with the modular exhibit system. The permanent exhibit area also includes a tiered seated area for casual presentation to children’s groups.
An outdoor terrace is accessible from the permanent exhibit area providing light meals and drinks overlooking the park and waterway. The terrace also accesses a green roof a portion of which can provide a planting area for vegetables for the café as well as education opportunities for school groups as it relates to the written language of botany.
Special Exhibit Space
The Special Exhibit space is exclusive to the third floor of the museum permitting controlled access for separate ticketing or special events. The space opens to a high ceiling at the west end providing ample space for large installations. A balcony overlooking the park and waterway is accessible from this space. The same flexible exhibit system is envisioned in the special exhibit space although the open space is fully adaptable to a variety of installations. This floor is open to the first-floor exhibit space and lobby below through a three-story atrium.
Vertical Multi Media Exhibit Space
A unique vertical exhibit space is envisioned in addition to the programmed areas of the museum connecting the educational area of the main floor to the exhibit floors above. This exhibit area offers the opportunity for exciting multi-media exhibits by curators or visiting artists. A central armature provides projected images, holograms, virtual reality environments as well as focused audio environments. A system of movable flat and curved screens are hung in the space controlled by automated pully systems integrated into the roof structure. This multimedia environment would be designed and controlled by museum curators and visiting artists through programming at the computer lab of the museum. The intent of this multimedia environment is to provide a venue to explore the future of world writing and its positive impact on culture and society. The space can be fully viewed and from the exhibit floors above and can be occupied at the main floor of the building affording an exciting and compelling experience for the visitors and researchers of the museum.
Museum Landscape
Main Plaza
The plaza in front of the entry to the museum features large reflecting pools. The bottom of these pools are etched with words and phrases in the major world languages pertaining to writing, language, culture, communication. Words that are descriptive of the importance of writing and also serve to describe the importance of the exhibits and educational aspect of the museum.
Exterior Exhibit Area
The area to the south of the main plaza features raised geometrical shapes that are derived from Vinca symbols. Similar to the Jiahu symbols they marked the first attempt at a written language. Discovered on Neolithic artifacts from Central and Southeast Europe dating from the 6th to 7th millennia BCE. These raised forms provide casual seating areas and as a setting for outdoors artifacts or sculptures by contemporary artists.
Amphitheater
An outdoor amphitheater is proposed at the south side of the museum facing the park and waterway. This venue is intended to be an extension of the auditorium programming. It provides and opportunity for shared programming or use by other performing arts programs throughout Incheon including the new Incheon Concert Hall.
Alphabet Playground
Located at the west end of the museum campus this play ground would feature conventional slides and climbing structures formed with Korean, Roman, Chinese characters. As with the other elements of the landscaping it is intended to draw the public to the grounds who may not wish to visit the museum.
Picnic Parterres
These intimate seating areas overlooking the waterway provide the opportunity for a direct connection to the Incheon Central Park for the public and museum visitors alike.
Renewable Resources
Geothermal wells are provided under the east plaza to provide heat and cooling via heat pumps in the basement of the building. Solar panels are provided on the sloped south facing roof for the museums electrical needs. Storm water from the roof and other impervious surfaces are to be collected and utilized for the fountains and planting watering. All lighting is to be LED type. The exterior walls and roof are insulated with closed cell soy based eco-foam insulation providing an R value in excess of 60. Windows are to be triple glazed with a U value of 0.8. The building is designed to comply with LEED Platinum and Passive House Institute Certification requirements.
Structural Systems
The structure of the museum is to be reinforced concrete. Slender concrete cantilevers from the folded roof structure and cantilevered balconies and the exhibit space overhanging the front entrance. The concrete foundation is supported on pilons that reach below the depth of the landfill. The concrete columns are exposed with a sandblasted architectural concrete finish.
