This year InsideOut participated in the Museum of Architecture’s Gingerbread City; an exhibition where architects, designers and engineers create an entire city made of gingerbread. The goal of the exhibition is to connect the public with architecture through a decorative, exciting and delicious exhibit.
Our plot on the thriving masterplan (developed by Tibbalds planning and urban design) was the Liquorice Library. Nestled high on the ‘Castle Hill’, it made for a prominent backdrop in the ‘Research and University District’.
The design presented a contemporary version of the grand libraries of old; a cathedral of knowledge providing a place of interaction between the rising batch of graduates and the wider community of Gingerbread City. An open public space at ground floor (including an ice rink) encourages social interaction and draws people into the liquorice heart of the Library where they are greeted by warmth and light from the stained-glass windows.
Inspired by the classical structural forms of arches and vaults, the plan was to push the boundaries of traditional gingerbread construction. A full team collaboration brought this concept to life, using 3D modelling and prototyping to test and perfect the design.
Construction drawings, baking moulds and templates were made ahead of ‘bake day’ for quality assurance. All staff members were involved in the final assembly and decoration of the interior and landscape.
Visited by thousands of people, the exhibition was a huge success, with proceeds going to the Museum of Architecture’s Grant Giving Fund support architectural entrepreneurship and public engagement. We are already excited for what wonders will come next year.
Daniel Stern