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Towards a public gallery - Exploring threshold fear and social behaviour in art gallery design

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dc.rights.license Author Retains All Rights en_NZ
dc.contributor.advisor Merwood-Salisbury, Joanna
dc.contributor.author McKenzie, Sarah
dc.date.accessioned 2017-03-21T03:36:02Z
dc.date.accessioned 2022-11-03T20:34:09Z
dc.date.available 2017-03-21T03:36:02Z
dc.date.available 2022-11-03T20:34:09Z
dc.date.copyright 2016
dc.date.issued 2016
dc.identifier.uri https://ir.wgtn.ac.nz/handle/123456789/30079
dc.description.abstract This thesis seeks to address how the public art gallery can be redesigned in response to the social and psychological problem of “threshold fear,” reaffirming the visitor’s sense of belonging and reconnecting the exhibition of art with a wider range of possible public narratives. The term “threshold fear” identifies social behaviour that creates a negative relationship between built space (in this case the art gallery) and the body (mentally and physically). A directed investigation into this kind of fear will begin to determine why the art gallery is critically underutilized as a public space. The perception of the art gallery as a foreign building is common to many: it projects a sense of intimidation to many members of the general public. The modern art gallery is, in this sense, undermined by preconceived notions of exclusivity and privilege whereby the building itself reinforces ideas of class difference. In critical response to the traditional art gallery typology, a design-led investigation will address and redirect the public’s social behaviour within this unfamiliar built environment. An experimental gallery will challenge both the typical exhibition narrative and the relationship between the building and the body. Focusing on redirecting the public’s spatial receptivity through external programmes, human behaviour will be explored in order to identify and reconnect a sense of personal belonging and welcome without the sensation of threshold fear. Known for extreme sports and adventure tourism and deprived of any real cultural significance, Queenstown is an appropriate site for a key cultural venue such as an art gallery, exposing a wider local and international population to New Zealand’s diverse art collections. The proposed gallery is intended to re-connect the extended community with the underutilized public institution, encouraging participants to take advantage of spaces explicitly designed for their benefit. Re-adjusting the typical gallery structure in an effort to maximise public attendance will be further heightened with exposure to national and international treasures by the means of loaning artworks from Te Papa’s extensive collection. By introducing a diverse body of artwork to the community of Queenstown, the gallery aims to revitalize audience participation whilst aiding the public’s perception of gallery architecture in New Zealand. This thesis argues that threshold fear can be redirected through critical attention to the physical relationship between the human body and the gallery, that architecture may reaffirm the rights of entry and belonging. The result will be a contemporary public art gallery in Queenstown with improved mass participation, resulting in greater social advancement for the local community and visitors. en_NZ
dc.format pdf en_NZ
dc.language en_NZ
dc.language.iso en_NZ
dc.publisher Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington en_NZ
dc.subject Threshold fear en_NZ
dc.subject Social behaviour en_NZ
dc.subject Art gallery en_NZ
dc.title Towards a public gallery - Exploring threshold fear and social behaviour in art gallery design en_NZ
dc.type Text en_NZ
dc.date.updated 2016-12-04T20:28:54Z
vuwschema.contributor.unit School of Architecture en_NZ
vuwschema.subject.anzsrcfor 120101 Architectural Design en_NZ
vuwschema.subject.anzsrctoa 4 EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT en_NZ
vuwschema.type.vuw Awarded Research Masters Thesis en_NZ
thesis.degree.discipline Architecture en_NZ
thesis.degree.grantor Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington en_NZ
thesis.degree.level Masters en_NZ
thesis.degree.name Master of Architecture (Professional) en_NZ


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