架构师提供的文本描述。麦克亨利堡国家纪念碑和历史神社是美国国歌的诞生地，也是美国最重要的历史地标之一。“堡垒”、“国歌”和“国旗”共同和单独地帮助我们了解美国是如何创建、捍卫和保存的。正是在这样的背景和这些丰富的国家符号的思想下，设计团队构思了新游客中心的表达方式。

Text description provided by the architects. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is the birthplace of America’s national anthem and one of the nation’s most significant historic landmarks. The Fort, the National Anthem and the flag, together and individually, help us to understand how the United States was created, defended, and preserved. It was with this context and these rich national symbols in mind that the design team conceived the expression for the new visitor center.

GWWO专门从事上下文设计。设计这座新建筑的巴尔的摩建筑公司GWWO建筑公司的总裁兼设计主管艾伦·里德(Alan Reed)表示：“我们努力让我们的每一栋建筑都能反映出我们个人客户的独特使命、精神和性格以及他们的故事。”

“GWWO specializes in contextual design. We strive for each of our buildings to reflect the unique mission, spirit and character of our individual clients and their stories,” says Alan Reed, president and design principal from GWWO Architects, the Baltimore-based architectural firm that designed the new building.

 © Robert Creamer

罗伯特·克里默

新的17，655平方米的游客中心为游客创造了一个感人的体验，这是通过展览和口译，以及建筑物本身的设计来实现的。

The new 17,655 sqf visitor center creates a moving experience for visitors, which is achieved through the exhibits and interpretation, as well as through the design of the building itself.

建筑位置

Building Location & Visitor Approach

新的游客中心位于该网站原有停车场的东端，该停车场已被重新设计和改进。原游客中心的搬迁-位于公园文化景观内-以及位于原1814年保护区边界之外的新建筑的选址，帮助恢复了公园的主要历史区域。游客流量增加，游客从东炮台大道的主要入口到达，从景点北侧的水上出租车入口到达，他们都享受着更好的进入顺序，可以不间断地看到历史上的明星要塞。

The new visitor center is positioned at the east end of the site's pre-existing parking lot, which has been redesigned and enhanced. Removal of the former visitor center―which was located within the Park’s cultural landscape―and siting of the new building outside of the original 1814 reservation boundary has helped restore the Park’s primary historic area. Visitor flow is enhanced, with visitors arriving from the Fort’s main entrance on East Fort Avenue and from the water taxi entrance on the site’s north side both enjoying an improved entry sequence with uninterrupted views to the historic star fort.

 © Robert Creamer

罗伯特·克里默

Architecture & Landscape

新游客中心设计的主要灵感来自于我们国家最重要的标志-星条旗。建筑物的两面弯曲墙反映了国旗的动态性和它所代表的一切。这两堵墙的并列-用不同的材料-唤起了国旗条纹背后的含义。砖，坚固而坚固，表现出以红色条纹为代表的坚韧和勇敢，而薄而精致的锌面则表现出白色所代表的纯洁和纯真。

The primary inspiration for the new visitor center’s design came from our nation’s most significant symbol—the Star-Spangled Banner. The two curved walls of the building reflect the dynamic nature of the flag and all it represents. The juxtaposition of the two walls—clad in distinct materials—invokes the meanings behind the flag’s stripes. Brick, strong and solid, expresses the hardiness and valor represented by the red stripes, while the thin and more delicate zinc façade expresses the purity and innocence represented by the white.

 © Robert Creamer

罗伯特·克里默

弯曲的墙壁也承认堡垒和它的旗帜。从西面看，向上倾斜的砖墙，从后退的锌墙中显露出来，将游客的目光指向国旗，创造了堡垒和游客中心之间的视觉对话。墙壁的反差和它们在相反方向的高度的温和变化表明了一种运动的感觉。这一运动进一步加强了景观设计，由马汉赖基尔协会在巴尔的摩。场地设计包括护堤、植物和植被，它们模仿平面图中的柔和曲线，季节性地改变高度，而铺路模式和弯曲的小径则将东墙和西墙延伸到场地内。

The curved walls also acknowledge the Fort and its flag. From the west, the upward slope of the brick wall, as revealed by the receding zinc wall, directs the visitor’s eye toward the flag, creating a visual dialogue between the Fort and the visitor center. The contrasting volumes of the walls and the gentle change of their heights in opposite directions suggest a sense of motion. This movement is further enhanced by the landscape design, by Mahan Rykiel Associates of Baltimore. Site design incorporates berms, plantings, and vegetation that mimic the gentle curves in plan and vary in height seasonally, while the paving patterns and curved pathways extend the east and west walls into the site.

 Floor Plans

平面图

在大楼内，一个灯火通明的大厅，设有中央问讯台，接待来访者，并作为公共空间的组织单元，其中包括展品、多用途教育室和零售商店。第二层是公园办公室和辅助空间，包括带外部露台的休息室，为堡垒提供风景如画的景色。

Inside the building, a light-filled lobby with central information desk greets visitors and serves as the organizing element from which public spaces, including the exhibits, multi-purpose education room and retail shop, are accessed. The second level houses park offices and support spaces, including a break room with exterior terrace that offers picturesque views to the Fort.

 © Robert Creamer

罗伯特·克里默