Tuacahn Special Exhibit and Founder's Room Copy

With the direction by the client, the design team believes the Founder’s Room at Tuacahn has the potential to become a beacon to the campus, serving as a place of inspiration and reflection for visitors and performers alike. Designed with Heidegger’s postulation of “place” in mind, the project is more than just a physical location, but a space that has meaning and significance. Drawing on Heidegger’s concept of “Dasein,” or being-in-the-world, the Founder’s Room can become a space that connects individuals to the broader community and landscape of Tuacahn. The design of the project should reflect this interconnectedness, incorporating natural elements and textures that blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the Founder’s Room design reflects Tuacahn’s rich history and legacy, incorporating artifacts and images that pay homage to the founders and the performers who have graced the stage over the years. This serves as a reminder of the cultural significance of Tuacahn and the role it plays in the Southwest region. The room can also serve as a space for contemplation and reflection, encouraging visitors to connect with their own thoughts and emotions. Heidegger believed that space should be a place for “authentic being,” a space where individuals can be true to themselves and their experiences. The Founder’s Room can embody this concept by creating a calming and meditative environment, free from distractions and noise. The design focused on the three timeframes the client gave the design team – Past: The simple viewing deck overlooks the weathered ruins of Orval Hafen’s cabin built on the site decades ago. All that remains is a simple wood deck and remnants of a fallen sandstone fireplace. The viewing deck is made of recycled weathered wood similar to what is remaining of the original cabin. Present: A simple concrete structure, the multipurpose space is anchored into the site becoming one with the landscape and allows for many types of events to take place and has a view to the exterior water feature that is located at the original location of the water well used by Orval. Future: A floating 20’x20’x20’ cube clade in recycled weathered wood, houses artifacts such as diaries, hand drawings, etc. donated by Mr. Hafen’s family. The cube, being elevated above the valley floor, has 360 degree views to the main Tuacahn campus, Padre Canyon and Mt. Trumbell, 80 miles to the south at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Supporting the floating cube is an “exploded” sandstone fireplace. This pays homage to the fallen sandstone fireplace on the original cabin and is located at the exact location of the original water well Orval and his family used for drinking water. The design, working with the stage set designers at Tuacahn, has created a concept that is not only contextual to the landscape and campus but truly represents the rich history and future of the Tuacahn Center for the Arts.