• Maribor, Slovenia
• Unbuilt
• Commercial

Many times in architecture, a project is not only about fulfilling the program, but also creating a unique design that encompasses everything that the building represents.. However, it can often be complicated making rooms conform to complex shapes and can cause designers to stick with boxy shapes. This competition submission serves as a good example of creating an exoskeleton of sorts for such a design. The proposed museum would be located in Maribor, Slovenia, a city where most structures adhere to a so called ‘courtyard block’ layout defined by inward facing plans that contain a private, shared garden at its center. This creates an intentional effect of isolation to cordon off these private areas from the outside world. Dong Ping Wong and Oana Stanescu approached this competition with the idea of flipping this typology, designing a building that opens up to the public, creating courtyards and community spaces that are opening up to the public instead of being closed off. The museums curvy, flowing exterior provides a stark contrast to the surrounding area while still playing off of the local typology through its inversion of the concept.