MaGnesium Hub: A Concept Design Celebrating National Geographic's Milestone

An Innovative Exhibition Space Inspired by Flash Photography

MaGnesium Hub is a concept design for an outpost of the National Geographic Society in Presidio, a historic neighborhood in San Francisco. This mixed-use commercial space is designed to accommodate exhibition spaces, a cafe, and a workplace, all located in a two-story building overlooking the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The circulation, lobby design, and exhibition spaces' unique features have been meticulously planned to combine functionality and aesthetics.

The design of MaGnesium Hub is centered around the concept of flash photography. The lobby on level one represents the camera lens, with a flipped LED graphic on the ground that appears correctly in the mirrored ceiling, demonstrating the image reversal effect between the lens and the imaging sensor. The permanent exhibition space adjacent to the lobby is designed with custom showcasing booths inspired by old camera bellows and camera lenses. The audio-visual room is acoustically designed for broadcasting short clips, ensuring an immersive experience for visitors.

As visitors travel down the hallway past the central event space's wall, they enter the current exhibition space, which is designed with flexibility in mind. This area represents the "second layer" of a magnesium atom, with movable display cases and a mesh ceiling formed by eight pieces of perforated panels inspired by the eight electrons on the second shell of a magnesium atom. The display pedestals throughout the floor are made of brushed silver metal and dichroic glass, resembling the flashcube of Kodak's Instamatic camera.

The cafe space, located at the corner of level one facing the Presidio neighborhood, draws inspiration from historic military architecture. It features brick elements, arcade porches, and other decorative elements that add character to the space.

Besides showcasing collections, MaGnesium Hub also provides an event space for groups and neighbors to connect and socialize. Throughout the exhibition floor, interactive elements such as pullout display panels, a digital interactive map, and an interaction board are designed to engage visitors and enhance their experience.

The MaGnesium Hub project was designed in 2019 in San Francisco and was nominated as one of the best. It reflects extensive research into the history of the National Geographic Society and its pioneering use of flash photography. Just like National Geographic's dedication to discovering the world through pioneering photos and insights, MaGnesium Hub carries a similar mission to celebrate the past and explore the future.

This innovative design has been recognized for its excellence and creativity, receiving the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category in 2021. The award acknowledges designs that demonstrate outstanding creativity and resourcefulness, incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology. MaGnesium Hub contributes to quality of life improvements and makes the world a better place.