Programmatic Void: A Design Methodology : Case Study Analysis of SANAA's 《New Mercedes-Benz Museum》 and 《Rolex Learning Center》

Abstract

This paper investigates the usage of program as a method of designing with void. The aim is to illustrate the connection between void design and program, as well as its characteristics. To achieve this, the projects New Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Rolex Learning Center from the Japanese architects SANAA will be analyzed. As a result, it is shown that designing with void can be connected to the usage of program, which can be defined as an immaterial void design element. In contrast, material voids are, for example, the patios in the Rolex Learning Center. In addition, the usage of program as a void design element can be characterized as being «ambivalent», meaning that its usage as a design methodology leads to the creation of spaces that can be perceived and interpreted very differently.