An international, one-stage architecture competition was recently held by Arkxsite with the purpose of developing compelling ideias for a contemporary museum located within the Castle of Montemor-o-Novo in Portugal. Placed on the top of a hill, 291m above sea level, not only it rules over a breathtaking view but also documents a continuous history from the Roman Period to the 18th century.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
Citing the competition brief, “the Castle of Montemor-o-Novo is a significant landmark on a prominent landscape, a place of great cultural heritage and historical significance with characteristics that must be preserved.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
When generating a vision for an intervention located within such a remarkable place, it is essential that each proposal emphasizes, respects and celebrates the site and existing ruins within this spectacular landscape, providing visitors a unique experience”.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
Tiago do Vale Architects’ design for the Site Museum is motivated by three particular circumstances of its context: the unique character of the place, the museum’s theme and the size and features of its program.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
Sharing an amazing and bucolic view over the Alentejo expanses with the ruins of the Montemor-o-novo castle, the site allows for an unparalleled relationship between architecture, landscape, history and built pre-existences.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
Both the fact that the place is the theme of the Museum and the flexibility its program enabled the opportunity to propose a Museum that breaks with some of the usual paradigms of such a project.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
Establishing a conversation with history and ruins, the museum was designed as if it reconstructed a part of the missing wall but assuming, at the same time, with it’s golden shimmer floating over a water mirror, that this is not just a reconstruction but a juxtaposition between historic pre-existences and an oneiric idea that dialogues with them.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
Breaking with the norm of inclosed exhibition spaces, the design proposes to allow the place to foray into the exhibition, placing landscape and museological pieces side by side.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
In the same line of thought, breaking with a traditional compartmentalized approach, this project suggests placing all the public aspects of the program on a same, continuous space, encompassed by the museological route, allowing each part of the museum to animate it as a whole, enlivening the visitor’s experience.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
Without questioning that general approach, the Museum’s bar, gift-shop and auditorium have their own independent access, allowing them to function equally with autonomy from the exhibition spaces.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.
© Tiago do Vale Arquitectos . Published on February 28, 2015.