London Design Platinum

2023

Museum of Uncertainty

Entrant Company

X.C STUDIO

Category

Architectural Design - Conceptual 

Client's Name

UNBUILT

Country / Region

United States

The La Brea Tar Pits have always been hubs of exploration and endless fascination. Our vision for the park and museum stems from a thorough analysis of their existing attributes, instilling a commitment to both preserve and enhance this unique site, ensuring it remains an ever-evolving center for discovery.



The Museum of Uncertainty at La Brea Tar Pits celebrates the site's rich history by seamlessly blending modern architecture with prehistoric elements. It offers an immersive experience where the tar itself becomes a showcase for fossils and an active excavation site. Our primary goal is to engage visitors in a journey of exploration and enlightenment, preserving and retelling the hidden stories of the La Brea Tar Pits' past.



The project comprises three unique structures. Visitors entering from Wilshire Boulevard begin a journey submerged in the lake of existing la brea pits, setting the stage for the mysteries ahead. Inside the exhibition building, an array of fossils from storage and hallway collections unfolds, offering insight into the Tar Pits' rich history. The heart of the project lies in the research and institution buildings, allowing guests to witness the excavation process in real-time and providing educational lectures and presentations.



Unveiling the inherent uncertainty within excavation sparks the thrill of discovery. Our mission is to read and reveal the stories concealed within these uncertainties, enabling us to retell these tales in the future. Lab research gradually unveils the narratives behind each bone, shedding light on the Tar Pit's history.



The Museum of the Unpredictable offers an immersive educational experience, inviting guests to engage actively in the processes of discovery and research, bridging the past with the present. This unique institution is a sanctuary of fascination, connecting all who enter with the enigmatic world beneath the tar and the captivating stories it yearns to tell.

Credits

DESIGN LEAD
XUECHEN CHEN
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