Latvian architects ARHIS shared with us their proposal for the Museum of World War II in Gdańsk Competition. See more images and architect’s description after the break.
Second World War’s first shot in September 1st, 1939 places Gdansk in the war’s history map.
The artistic character given to this Second World War museum is duality, whose essential elements are – EMPTINESS – a bomb hole, a crater and a second contrasting character – a BEAM – a way, a future opportunity bridge or a hope dock.
The museum building’s structure consists of three architectural elements: - EMPTINESS – a crater, 66m in diameter and 20m in depth. - An elevated BEAM – a cantilevered ramp 244m long. - A public square with an area of 8700sqm from which 2700sqm are destined to outdoor exhibitions.
EMPTINESS – the crater is located in the outdoor area – in the center of the square and serves as the plazas and the museums spatial, functional and emotional center. It functions as a natural light collector for the indoor areas that are located in the underground levels and as a projector screen for the museum areas bellow the center of the crater.
An elevated BEAM (ray) – two direction cantilevered ramps that takes the museum’s visitors from the museums exposition level (level –2) over the square to the river shore, showing the Moltowas River area and the landscape of the city and then back to the starting point – the lobby of the museum. The spatial location of the ray traces the vanished place of the historical canal.
Public outdoor area-the square around the crater is an important element of the museum complex that serves as a meeting area and helps as an outdoor exposition area with 2700sqm. In the crater and the square section, the contours reflects the old city’s architectural structure and geometry which is also noticeable in the landscape’s lines and spatial character, giving this way a sense of a historical dimension to the modern building.
Design Team: Andris Kronbergs, Evija Runce, Ivars Brediks, Ivo Kalvelis, Kristīne Klišāne, Madara Eisaka, Raimonds Saulītis, Vilnis Uzors
