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Smithsonian Institution Located in the historic Carnegie Mansion, the design sought to visually and functionally redefine the department's space into a three dimensional framework for the study, display and storage of this invaluable collection. Visual and spatial fluidity, natural light, transparency, color, materials serve to reinforce the inner workings of the department and to define its public identity. The curatorial system of formatting, documenting and housing the collection was employed as a metaphor for developing the compositional strategy for the design. The distinction between the two primary public spaces, separated only by a transparent plane of floor-to-ceiling glass, was blurred to visually expand the sense of space on the floor. The central space-the Drue Heinz Study Center-borrows natural light from the Henry Luce Center and from curatorial offices which complete the northern edge. A bifurcated elliptical desk at the entrance to the department punctuates the intersection of these two spaces and facilitates visitor assistance and monitoring of the collection's use. List of Museum
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