Wan-Yu (Wendy) Chen

VOIR DIRE

Projection, Perception, and the Reimagined Jury Deliberation Room

Jury deliberation room, Projection, Perspectives, Promenade

“The Invention of Art of the Drawing” is a significant painting in art history. Many painters have used this story as a theme for their works. It is a mythological story about Greek potter Butades’ daughter setting up the light and trying to draw her lover’s silhouette by the shadow projected on the wall before he departed on a journey abroad. So she could remember him clearly. This profile had then become an important reference for her father to create a sculpture for her daughter in relief.

This painting brings up two interesting ideas of projection. First, geometry can be projected in a two-dimensional plane and three-dimensional space. And there is an inconsistency between the two projections. However, because of the inconsistency between 2D and 3D, we can create the illusion three-dimensionally within a two-dimensional medium and vice versa. In the book “The Projective Cast,” Robin Evans said, “Projection operates in the interval between things. It is always transitive.” He proposed that projection is a process between two or more objects rather than within a single object. Secondly, a space composition could be the projection of the space itself, objects, activities, and events inside and corresponding to the narrative. Like a kaleidoscope, many factors can interplay with each other and then affect the composition. These factors can change the space the protagonists are in but also our perception from different viewpoints.

This thesis interest lies in exploring projection as a tool to influence perception and perspective and creating illusions and different dimensions within a two-dimensional medium.

The jury deliberation room tends to be underappreciated in discussions of court building design. In its current form, it is lackluster, lacking in design and quality, and is often used as a space attached to the side of the courtroom. The central role of the jury is to ensure equal responsibility under the law, but this role is often downplayed in society. Jury duty is generally viewed negatively as a burden. However, the jury is an important expression of the power of the people.

By reimagining this space, we can create a new form of jury room that is inclusive of different perceptions and ideas, elevating the importance of people empathizing with different perspectives on ideas. This transformation will enhance the role of jurors and change the perception of their function.

The new jury deliberation room consists of concentric circles of different sizes from inside to outside. From the inside to the outside, there is a space for the jurors to finalize their deliberations, a sitting area, a hallway, a pantry, a restroom, and a circulation path that connects to the outside space. When viewed from the center of the circle, the 12 jurors are seated behind a backdrop of overlapping, folded projections of the above spaces. The homogeneity of the space makes it impossible for the jurors to recognize the presence of the 12 backgrounds as they roam around the space. However, when the 12 jurors are seated at the round table in the center, they will find 12 projected spaces with completely different effects. This will stimulate the jurors to look at things from different perspectives and to think in different ways.

By manipulating people's perception of space, I want to create a new form of courthouse architecture centered around the jury room that will elevate the importance of the jury room to new heights in the court's and the community's perception. In doing so, a tangible connection will be made between the architectural design and the profound notion of justice symbolized by the jury.

Jury Deliberation Room

Person 03

Person 05

Person 11

Panoramic Series of Interior Elevations