Architectural Design | Graphics
rise - museum and cultural centre in rome
Located in the heart of Rome, to the south of the Colosseum and the east of the Roman Forum, the site currently is an overgrown landscape used for a series of abandoned buildings and parking. An underused tram stop is situated in the middle of the site. The site is bounded by a monastery on a cliff, an active orchestra and vacant building owned by the Capitoline Museum that may be transformed into a library in the future.
The approach is to first look at these conditions and connect to the greater city in a more efficient way. Our proposal provides an entrance directly across the Palatine Hill Gate. Another access point is provided by bridging over to a berm adjacent to the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum which provides a direct pedestrian access over Via Celio Vibenna.
Following the natural topography of the site, the project terraces the landscape to create a series of bands and platforms towards the back of the site. The retaining wall is kept, with an elevated walking path. To the north of the site is a landscaped area offering displays for the archaeological fragments currently scattered along the site.The site consists of two new buildings that rise out of the topography bisected by a long internal plaza. The larger of the two buildings houses a museum on the ground floor, with the city model at its apex. A dip in the ceiling creates a walkway that connects spaces and creates a viewing deck into a atrium where the city model resides. A series of heavy concrete ribs hold up the building and create a framework down its length. The smaller building houses a workshop for local artisans. The two buildings are connected through a tunnel where the museum continues over and exits in the other building. Furthermore, the plaza between the two buildings provide spill-out space for the workshop, as well as a site for markets and impromptu performances.
