trahan architects' magnolia mound visitors center in the US emphasizes the site's significance

new orleans-based trahan architects highlighted the louisiana’s landmark magnolia mound with its new visitors center. the architects selected translucent channel glass to subtly obscure occupants within and around the new building like an impressionist painting – blurring the distinction between new and old, building and landscape.

image © timothy hursley

magnolia mound was a working plantation established in 1791. today its mission is to illustrate and interpret the louisiana creole lifestyle through educational programs, workshops, lectures, festivals and other special events. trahan architects‘ design intent of the project is to emphasize the importance of the mound and topography as it relates to the site.

image © timothy hursley

as one transitions through the new visitor center and ascends to the top of the mound, the building merges with the landscape to become unobtrusive and imperceptible. the top of the new structure aligns with the elevation of the high ground of the mound, establishing a datum which links old and new architecture on site.

image © timothy hursley

image © timothy hursley

image © timothy hursley

image © timothy hursley

image © trahan architects

image © trahan architects

image © trahan architects

project info:

design: trahan architects 

title: magnolia mound visitors center

location: baton rouge, louisiana

area: 4,000 square feet

lead architect: victor f. ‘trey’ trahan

AIA team: brad mcwhirter, mark hash, ben rath, michael mccune, kim nguyen, sarah cancienne

collaborators: reed hilderbrand – landscape architecture, CVE design – environmental graphics, AST engineers – MEP engineering, ABMB engineers – civil engineering, mclaren engineering group – structural engineering, lord cultural resources – cultural planner, omega

client: BREC