The Art & Dance Strip Wanlika Kaewkamchand

THE DANCE STRIP
SCHOOL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ART AND DANCE
LUBUMBASHI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
WANLIKA KAEWKAMCHAND I GSAPP @ COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY I FALL 2009 I STUDIO : MICRO CITY
CRITICS : MARKUS DOCHANTSCHI & CHAD KELLOGG

Research’s topic - National Identity
Through all the different topics of what makes a national identity of Democratic Republic of Congo,
I choose to focus my research on the most cultural and positive aspect, which is Music and Dance.

Dance in Africa is a way of life, a source of communication,
and history, re-enacted through movement.
“...Another outstanding characteristic of our outlook is our love for music,
dance and rhythm. The proper subtitle for Africa should have been
“Land of music, dance and rhythm.” D.K. Chisiza

Other than music and dance, the school will also
promote Congolese/African Arts in crafting
sculptures, textile design, drawing and painting.

Educational Proposal
for the School of Advancement in Art and Dance
LARGE PERFORMANCE
HALL
CULTURAL CENTER
enhance unity in society
INPUT
special features
ART CRAFTING STUDIOS
CONTEMPORARY DANCE
LOCAL GOODS
help to poverty/business
INTERNATIONAL
RECOGNITION
exchange programs across
OUTPUT
back to the people

School’s Curriculum
CONTEMPORARY
DANCE
PAINTING /
DRAWING
SCHOOL OF
DANCE
STUDIES OF
LIBERAL ARTS
SCHOOL OF ARTS
AFRICAN MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS
SCULPTING
The Dance Strip’s educational system concentrates on two majors of Dance and Art
and the link between them is a standard study of Libert Arts.

Number of Enrollments
1 st Year
2 nd Year
3 rd Year
4 th Year
3 classes x 25 students = 75
3 majors x 12 students = 36
3 classes x 25 students = 75
3 majors x 12 students = 36
3 classes x 25 students =
3 majors x 12 students =
75
36
3 classes x 25 students = 75
3 majors x 12 students = 36
Total
= 444 Students
The school will be a model intended for a 4-years college students for both genders.

Programatic Outline
SPACE
ROOM
OCCUPANCY
(max. # of people)
SIZE
(m 2 )
NOTE
THEATRE A
1
1200
1750
THEATRE B
1
300
580
THEATRE C
1
300
580
GALLERY
1
300
200
DANCE STUDIOS
6
30 per rm.
140
ART STUDIOS
6
12 per rm.
140
CLASSROOMS
8
30 per rm.
50
TEACHERS FACILITY
12
2-3 per rm.
15
CAFETERIA
1
900
1000
SHARED INSTITUTIONS
1
100
120

Diagramatic Studies
I. CENTRALIZED II. CLUSTERED III. LOOP
IV. MIRROR/OPPOSITION
V. CROSSED
Bubble diagrams’ method were the initiative to my design approach. Crossed diagram (# V) of Dance and Art
schools’ facing each other forming an open space in between - is the diagram that is later developed.

SITE - National Museum of Lubumbashi
In search for site, the school for
the Advancement of Art and Dance
fits perfectly with the same block
with the National Museum of
Lubumbashi, since, it is already a
cultural central block.

Sun Path Diagram
N
17:55pm
JUNE
6:29am
W
E
18:08pm
18:33pm
TODAY
5:40am
DEC
5:44am
S

Views to Site

Developed Concept
Combining Art, Dance and Music’s studios within one square per
each year of students. The open space in-between them will link
interaction of students from all school and years through the shared
institutional program. The beauty is everyone will have the view to
the dance studios and take inspiration from one another.

Developed Diagram
The diagram represents the school sector of 4 years connected to the professional - performance center
sector. Each school’s square consists of one of each of listed majors. The green which is the shared institutional
will provoke the cross programming of all students to visit each square.

Public Circulation to Site
B.O.H
SCHOOL
ENTRANCE
MAIN PEDESTRIAN
ENTRANCE
SCHOOL
ENTRANCE

Zoning the Project onto the Site
EDUCATIONAL
ZONE
COMMERCIAL
ZONE

Proposed Site Plan
The school is situated nearly to center of site,
purposely for convenient access from both sides
of streets - however more closer to the National
Museum of Lubumbashi to create the immediate
cultural link from the performance center to
the museum. The site is designed to be pourous
with soft curvatures’ edges for friendly invitation,
flow of drawing people from all directions
to engage. It is the school that is part of everyone’s
life and the community - not only restricted
to the student.
NEW LANDSCAPE

Plan - Ground Floor Plan
DANCE STUDIO
CANTEEN
ART STUDIOS
GALLERY
main school entrance
B.O.H.
DANCE STUDIOS
ART STUDIOS
PERFORMANCE
CENTER
DANCE STUDIOS
DANCE STUDIOS
WORKSHOP
WOOD/SCULPTURE
SHOP
ART STUDIOS
main public entrance
The developed diagram has flatten programs into two opposing strips of art and
dance studios. They intertwined each other to envelop five different enclosed,
yet, opened space, which can be functioned as another form of dance
space or place to exhibit student’s artwork.

Plan - Second Floor Plan
TEACHER FACILITY
LIBRARY
ART STUDIOS
DANCE STUDIOS
PERFORMANCE
CENTER
DANCE STUDIOS
DANCE STUDIOS
CLASSROOMS
MULTIFUNCTIONAL SPACE

Aerial View
The red roof’s represents
the Dance School - which
its walls are more transparent,
therefore, can be seen
through once in central circulation.
The strip has an inverse
relationship
on the outter ends.

South Facade

School’s Entrance

Interior from Theatre’s Balcony

Atrium View looking @ Theatre

Open Space between Art and Dance Studios

Main Public Entrance

Exploded Axonometric
ROOF - PTFE with
lightweight structure
COLUMNS - Painted
Aluminum
WALLS & PARTITIONS
- concrete and drywall
BALCONY - second
floor’s circulation
2nd Layer of Exterior
Wall in translucent
glass panel +
polycarbonate panels
Exterior skin in translucent
and opaque
glass panels.
*Performance Center’s
skin as limestone