Ryan Murray

THE MUSEUM OF STRANGENESS

The Museum of Strangeness is a framework consisting of a host-building, characters and an integrated flood defence system in Kingston-upon-Hull. Born out of the metaphysical aesthetic of the city, the scheme showcases the town’s unique architectural language and provides spaces for artists to produce artworks inspired by the city. The proposal is inspired by the ‘uncanny’ feeling Hull evokes due to the de-contextualisation of its infrastructural and architectural fragments. It results from exten-sive urban analysis through the lens of artwork, particularly Giorgio de Chirico’s and Kaye Sage’s. The radical masterplan integrates the city’s flood defence with the urban fabric and enhances its metaphysical aesthetic. The artwork is produced and displayed within the city and is accessible to all, providing a common resource for residents and visitors. The host-building acts as a landmark along-side a redesigned public park atop the new flood attenuation tank which re-purposes Queen’s Gardens, as a key component of the infrastructure needed to alleviate the city’s fluvial and pluvial flooding. 'Families' of artist studios and exhibition spaces can be reassembled and deployed in dif-ferent parts of the city to generate ever-changing scenery and creative spaces for artists and the public.