The Contemporary Arts Center

 

The Contemporary Art Center building is more than an exhibition space for its ever circulating art exhibits, it itself is a work of art. I was far more interested in Zaha Hadid’s CAC and the architectural thought which went behind its construction. I had previously made a visit to the Fountain Square area of Cincinnati where the CAC is situated and was not aware of CAC’s presence amongst the urban landscape.  The original intention of the façade of the building was to blend in with the urban carpet of Cincinnati. This is accomplished by the original stark and empty lobby area with large glass windows facing the street and the continuation of concrete floors which would be found on the sidewalk. A redesign of the lobby featuring a café and seating area has transformed the lobby into a public space ultimately causing it to be more active with the outside. The exhibition space is unique in that work is always on circulation and the exhibition is ever changing. However, it was not the art which caught my attention, but rather the architectural design and various angles created in Hadid’s CAC.