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In this presentation the Architect Julio Torres Santana exposes
the concepts behind the design for the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame
Historical Museum, during their fifth annual ceremonial week in
Altos de Chavón in La Romana. A museum dedicated to all those who in one
way or another have contributed to the development of the history of the sport in
Latin America and worldwide.
We are not competing with Cooperstown
in this, but
on the contrary
we are adding value
and we are complementing it.
As part of this complement is the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame Museum
and this presentation, I know time will rewards us as I said Julio.
I want to introduce a young Dominican Architect, the Architect Julio Torres,
graduate from Cornell University.
Who is the person who has taken leadership with the design of the museum,
Julio.
Well, good morning.
As I prepare here
I would like to ask you to accompany me in applause to all of you
for making the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame a possibility,
please.
This is the third time the project is presented.
Including the first, when accompanied by Mr. Weill and Rafael Avila,
We went to Cooperstown to present everything that
Has to do with the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame.
My presentation is divided into three parts.
First, I will be talking about
the functionality of the museum, I will talk of the proposed spaces.
Second , its form and the factors that dictated the aesthetic of the museum
and its innovative structure.
I'll be talking a little about The technology of the structure
and how it is local.
Obviously it would have been impossible to carry out a design for a museum like this
without studying " the Baseball Cathedral" as Mr. Weill calls it.
And this done by two visits a photographic survey
and a study of all of its space in plans
and its distributions.
Which in many cases dictated some of the spaces
That you will see proposed in our museum.
As previously mentioned,
we visited Cooperstown and present
and this is an observation
By one of the presenters, not me obviously,
noticed as I was presenting the design.
When we presented
the plans,
which were done by a young Dominican,
of what will be
our Museum in La Romana
those people when crazy.
Obviously he was referring to the Cooperstown's committee.
Well, let's talk about the function, right?
Well, let's talk about the function, right?
The museum proposes
three levels.
A semi-underground,
first level and a second level.
But we will also be talking
about the exterior areas.
In the semi -underground level , we propose parking,
storage area and loading,
interactive baseball,
exhibition space. Where this exhibition
not necessarily have to be about baseball
but cultural
where other countries can come
and showcase local artists of these countries and "so on".
The history of baseball,
where its origin will be acknowledge, of Latin baseball.
A space to recognize Cooperstown as "The Baseball Cathedral".
Spaces to recognize the leagues by country,
a space to acknowledge those historical moments that marked Latin Baseball,
a space to recognize heroes by country
a space to recognize those women who
in one way or another have impacted the baseball.
I know baseball tends to be extremely masculine,
but Cooperstown has a space like this and I loved the isea, so I think it would be good
to seek those women who in a way or another have contributed to baseball.
A space to display historical objects of Latin Baseball
space to recognize Latinos the currently are in the major leagues
and a space to showcase the newly exalted.
Obviously the " Hall of Fame" where all the luminaries
will be presenting their history there.
Following to first level,
from the semi-underground to the first,
here we see the lobby. This is one of the most
spaces interesting I design,
because during the day it can function as planned,
as lobby.
But at night , you it can offer a whole new world of opportunities.
Becoming a space for these kind of events.
Or, by its nature of full height ceiling,
a space for receptions, like the one you can see here.
At this level, we find a mini- theater,
where an introductory history of Latino Baseball can be project
to all the visitors before moving on to the
exhibition halls.
And another very important idea,
was the fact that after the journey
all visitors
would end up in a commercial dome that is being proposed.
Where they will be exposed to
"gift shop" , restaurant
cafe and all.
Turning to the second level, here
a more intellectual space is proposes, where a library or archives is offered
to all those who study baseball
in more depth.
And obviously,
administrative spaces, on the second level.
Outside, we offer a hall
excuse me , a plaza
Semi-public,
where events like the one you can see
on the screen can be offered, something not so formal.
But, also here in the outside a mini-amphitheater is offered.
Where can oratorical happen and a little more formal.
Well, let's talk about the form, which is one of the most interesting parts.
Here I will be talking about the factors
that dictated the aesthetic of the museum
why it looks like the way it looks like.
For example, it was very important consider the fact
that the "Latin Baseball Hall of Fame"
Not only represents the Dominican Republic,
but all of Latin America.
So while united by baseball
and by a language,
there are borders that divide us.
usually historical
and cultural.
How to reflect this in a design.
In my opinion, baseball is
one of the sports that invokes
the widest range of emotions in its fans.
How to adapt this to a design, how to create a design
that all who visit find an emotion,
leaves there marked , and say wow!
In my opinion
I would exchange any final game or championship
to be in the game where this happened.
To me that is amazing.
Monumental.
It is very, very important.
I'm sure that most of can, not only identify
almost all of these projects, but also locate them where they are.
I think this is something that the
Latin Baseball Hall of Fame cannot miss.
A project that
represents the past,
reflect the present,
or is focused on the future,
where in 30 or 40 years
visitors stop staring and say "wow, this was done thinking of me".
After all these factors, a brainstorm begins and one Architect
can plant them anywhere, in any piece of paper that comes up.
A very important story or interesting, is the fact that
I was in Miami visiting with my brother Dr. Santana,
we were listening to Ramon Orlando live at a cafe Restaurant,
when the first sketch of what is the design for the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame came up.
On a napkin, there I was inspire on the spot
and I did it.
Two years later I found Mr. Ramon Orlando on a plane,
on my way to New York. I was tempted to approach him
and tell him this story, because for me I think is interesting,
But, he had headphones on this size and when I saw the headphones
I said, wow they looked like two signs that said
"Please Do Not Disturb" and I backed away.
But I hope to have the opportunity to tell him this story
to Mr. Ramon Orlando in the future since he is one of my favorite singers.
Well, as you can see here, all these ideas are taken
and translated into an image that is more interpretable by the common public.
Here, as you can see,
the design proposes the plaza with the reflecting pool.
Semi-public area, where people can come and not necessarily
have to pay an entry to enjoy the museum.
Now let's talk about the structure.
It of good practice to, not only consider local materials,
but also the constructions technology of a country.
And I found this in two projects in the country,
although forty years apart,
they contains everything needed to carryout
what would be the construction of the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame
One of this is the Basilica of Higuey,
which in my opinion is one of the
most precious Architectural jewels in the Caribbean.
And Sambil shopping mall, with its very well done metal structure.
With this in mind these diagrams emerge
they are more technical, no?
They are for sitting down with engineers and
calculate and see the possibilities of the structure.
The main wall of the museum
and the commercial dome structure.
And here we can appreciate how the structure
becomes an integral part
what the design is, the aesthetics.
Without the need of
unnecessary ornamentation, right?
The same structure is expressed creating an identity.
Another thing I wanted to talk about is the impact that the design has caused,
not only in Cooperstown, but in Cornell University where I graduated.
This is an email from a young Dominican who is currently
studying Architecture there, Paola Cuevas.
Where she writes telling me about a teacher That spoke to her about and ex-student he'd
who is currently designing the museum for the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame.
And her, very motivated to find someone that achieved what she is trying to achieve
As an Architect, wrote to me and me I told me about the professor
Kevin Pratt
Kevin Pratt, despite
being one of the youngest professors
for me, he was one of the brightest
And most up to date
in his way of teaching.
He was ...
always considering the
sustainability
and the environment.
And teaching that
you do not need ornamentation to make an interesting design.
And something I liked about his class
was that he showed an image
to teach this, that marked me and will show at this moment.
He used this to give This kind of teaching
in my opinion this is as synonymous
for that saying that we have in
Latinamerica that says
"Although the monkey in silk
is still a monkey"
and with this he taught us that that it is not necessary
to ornament Architecture,
Architecture should have its own identity.
Unfortunately, last year Professor Pratt
at the age of 43 passed away.
And
I would like to take this opportunity
so important to me
to honor his memory
family and Cornell University
by asking you to join me in a second of silence
for each year of his life,
starting now.
Thank you very much, that concludes my presentation.