On the banks of the Mystic River where Medford, Somerville, and Everette come together are miles of parks and public walkways

Marion Griscom

3D Studio Max 1 – Modeling and Rendering

BAC - Fall 2003

Personal Interpretation of the Barcelona Pavilion

On the banks of the Mystic and Malden Rivers where Medford, Somerville, and Everett come together is an extensive system of parks and public walkways. They are all part of the Metropolitan District Commission, also known as the MDC. In a distinctly urban setting, green spaces and river views provide peace and tranquility.

For a couple of weeks at lunchtime, I would slip away from my office to explore these parks in search of a site where the pavilion could serve as a visitor center. Although I knew these walkways existed, I had no idea how extensive the system was. Ultimately I chose a spot near the Gateway Center on the Malden River just above where it meets the Mystic River. Along with easy access and lots of parking, this location had the best river views.

From the start I had envisioned a wood structure in a natural environment. Once I had a real site, the concept evolved. Along with wood and stone materials to blend with the natural aspect of the site, bright colored interior walls and abstract graphics were used to match the urban location.