Archinect
Chris Currie

Chris Currie

Newbern, AL, US

anchor
Our connection between the two buildings.
Our connection between the two buildings.
3 more images  ↓

The Safe House Black History Museum

This project consists of two of the last shotgun style homes in Greensboro, AL. Two weeks before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, he was giving a talk in this town. With Church burnings on all major roads that leave town, MLK was invited, and protected, at this site. Our goal was to restore the historic shotguns to their original state, while connecting, and adding, onto the buildings to suit the needs of our client and community.

The strategy was to continue the shotgun typology with a more modern 'cartoon' of a house, a form that can feel familiar to anyone who visits. The two buildings are then joined with a glass connector. This minimal connection between the buildings bridges the gap with an image of a local march. The ultimate goal is that this image can act as branding and signage for the museum, while also allowing visitors to march with the marchers towards the other building.

In the larger extension of the other building, we built a gallery to encourage multiple visits for locals. Collaborating with The University of Alabama, we were able to secure a showing of the Paul R. Jones collection of unidentified African American art.

 
Read more

Status: Built
Location: Greensboro, AL, US

 
Image of the marchers.
Image of the marchers.
The orignial buildings.
The orignial buildings.
View of courtyard space, with main entrance.
View of courtyard space, with main entrance.