Ananya Sahdev

AR2022

Come As You Are

UNRAVELLING KURT COBAIN'S STRUGGLE, STARDOM, AND SELF-DESTRUCTION : The project is a memorial on the rock musician Kurt Cobain. The concept of the memorial takes inspiration from his experience of living under a bridge, and how he dealt with the duality of society. The memorial is divided into three phases, namely his Struggle, his Stardom, and his unfortunate Self-Destruction. Using inclined planes, natural light, and views of the lake nearby, the memorial intends to replicate these phases, while also emphasising on his musical genius and the legacy he left behind.

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A spatial college helped understand and capture the essence of Kurt’s life, and derive important focal points that were implemented in the design.

Understanding the importance of Kurt's birth and death place, the design is placed in Madrona Park in Seattle, Washington, USA, which faces Lake Washington.

The memorial is divided into three phases. These are Kurt's Struggle, Stardom, and Self-Destruction.

To represent these phases and his legacy, the memorial is further divided into four levels.

Low ceiling height replicates Kurt’s start under the bridge.

The roof moves higher, there is barely any light here, which makes one anxious to move forward.

Steep stairs make one unavoidably conscious of the ascent, adding to one's impatience.

The roof becomes double-heighted, making one feel small and unsafe.

The stairs lead one underground exactly below the point of one's arrival, representing Kurt's downfall.

While from the inside the faceted structure represents Kurt’s meandering life, from the outside, it represents the rebellious nature of his music.