Abstract
This study examines Safdie's design philosophy: place, purpose, and process and design strategies found in museum buildings. Safdie, influenced by personal background as immigrant, education of McGil University in Canada, apprenticeship from Louis Kahn, is one of the most recognized architects who designed renowned public and cultural buildings after Habitat 67 in Montreal, Canada. In order to reveal design strategies his eight museum buildings has been selected and analyzed in terms of interpretation of context, program presented in floor plan and section design, and the process of integrity found in structure and material. The results of this paper can be summarized as follows: 1) Reflection of existing context and regeneration of the locality has been in a creative way to reinforce the sense of place. 2) The layout of major and gallery space is determined according to the Safdie's interpretation of the site context and this can be categorized into three types. 3) Integration of the innovative structural frame and material has been experimented by using tartan grid and toroid form in the major and gallery spaces. This study is intended to reevaluate the significance of Safdie's design approach to building uniqueness of the site, program and tectonic.