Designed by ferrarifrongia Architects, the main aim of the proposal for the DOSA archaeological museum is to protect the landscape through the aesthetic and functional enhancement of the existing heritage. The project is conceived as a sign in the landscape which, as a result of an extracting and modeling action of the ground, remarks the connection between the natural and the built. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The two existing water tanks are located in a panoramic area? from which is possible to watch a great part of the archeological park of Sarcapos. A museum path embrace the inside and the outside spaces, developing the potentiality of the location and giving to the visitors a panoramic vision of the park.
Access and Connection
The museum access is a fundamental aspect for the design of paths and ramps, dedicated to visitors, workers and goods transportation. The design improve the potentiality of the land configuration and the gap between the two water tanks. A main entrance starts from the road next to the first water thanks and it splits in two ramps. The first ramp leads to the lower level where the museum entrance is located, the second reaches the terrace level, from which is possible watching the surrounding archeological park.
A second service ramp is used by the employees to reach offices and laboratories without crossing the flux of the museum visitors. An alternative access is provided by the two water towers of the original tanks, converted in elevators. A natural connection between the two buildings is achieved by the system of ramps which converges in a covered public relation space which connects offices, laboratories and museum spaces.
Digging Process
The new spaces are obtained as a result of a digging process inside the circular walls of the existing water tanks, preserving the concrete structure and protecting the archeological goods from building works. The museum and the laboratories are located in the same ground level to guarantee a continuous connection between the two buildings.
Museum
The inside spaces are configurated together with the ramp path and a route to the ruins. Visitors are welcomed in a main hall with reception and bookshop, and continue to the exposition rooms. The rounded configuration of the space takes the visitors to the exposition tour in a natural way. A relaxing area, next to the hall, reveals to the guests the view of the naturalistic landscape of the surrounding. Next to the hall is located a multifunctional room, which can be equipped as a conference room or exposition area connected directly to the outside, without interfering with the exposition route.
Laboratories
Laboratories and office buildings have the same planimetric configuration of the museum but with a defined separation of the spaces, in particular, offices, laboratories and archive. The offices are conceived as an open space with flexible disposition of the furniture, directly connected to the archive/meeting room. The laboratories are designed to respect the sequence of the tasks on the archeological findings: reception, cleaning, storing. Both buildings use the spaces between the existing wall and the new one to hold services and facilities.
Structure
The reinforced concrete is used for the great part of the building structure: foundations, vertical walls and ceilings. The vertical walls are conceived as buttress of the ground force. The exposed concrete stands out the characteristic of solidity and roughness of the material, as a consequence of its formwork. The ceiling is realized with concrete beams and slab, alternated with skylights located between the beams. The existing walls of the circular tanks are preserved, only the part created for the entrance is demolished and readapted.
Skylight and ceiling
As a result of his ipogeal configuration the lighting of the museum is provided from the ceiling. Light penetrates from the roof, filtering the direct light and spreading a diffuse light, more comfortable for an exposition and for working spaces. The skylight are raised up from the ceiling to prevent any kind of infiltration. The gap between roof and skylight is filled by fertilized soil, to configure the green terrace and to guarantee continued layer of grass on the roof.
