location: SOFIA, BULGARIA
project: MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
project: MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
The site is situated in Boyana district, Sofia, Bulgaria, near the Boyana residence (official residence of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria) and the National History Museum. It is at the northern foot of Vitosha mountain, which gives it a beautiful scenery. The Sofia ring road, which is an important thoroughfare surrounding Sofia, passes near the site. Boyana river, originating from Vitosha mountain, flows through a special piping installation under the site.
Urban design concept of the project is to form a museum complex around the existing National History Museum, and thus to create an attractive urban environment where people can learn, meet and relax.
There are two importnat intersections. One of them is where Bulgaria blvd. crosses the Sofia ring road, and the other one is where Tsar Boris III blvd. crosses the Sofia ring, Both of these boulevards connect the Boyana disctrict with Sofia city center.
The design concept of the museum is built around three elements - water, nature/lanscape, nature/earth.
+nature/landscape
Environmental cautious approach is a very important part of the design aspect of a museum. Because the site itself is located at the foot of a mountain increases the importance of this factor even more.
The concept is to make the person inside the museum not only observe, in this instance, the art in the museum, but also to make him aware of the surroundings outside it, in this instance- Vitosha mountain, Boyana river, National History Museum, the Presidential Residence to the north, and the city to the south. This is achieved with a design inspired by a matchbox. Yes! A matchbox, which has nothing in common with museums, neither with the nature, but it doesn't have to have! The shape, the volume (without the internal part) is such, that it is tunneling, directing the gaze, the sight of a person to a certain point of view. The overall spatial design of the building is obtained by superimposing a number of parallelepipeds/matchboxes on one antoher. The directions of the "matchboxes" is not random! To the south they focus on Vitosha mountain, the Presidential Residence and the National History Museum, and to the north - Sofia ring road.
On the north side, there is a double effect. Not only does the design make the people inside the museum observe the city, but also it makes people outside, pedestrians and passengers in commute, to look at the building and see that there is something interesting inside, art.
Environmental cautious approach is a very important part of the design aspect of a museum. Because the site itself is located at the foot of a mountain increases the importance of this factor even more.
The concept is to make the person inside the museum not only observe, in this instance, the art in the museum, but also to make him aware of the surroundings outside it, in this instance- Vitosha mountain, Boyana river, National History Museum, the Presidential Residence to the north, and the city to the south. This is achieved with a design inspired by a matchbox. Yes! A matchbox, which has nothing in common with museums, neither with the nature, but it doesn't have to have! The shape, the volume (without the internal part) is such, that it is tunneling, directing the gaze, the sight of a person to a certain point of view. The overall spatial design of the building is obtained by superimposing a number of parallelepipeds/matchboxes on one antoher. The directions of the "matchboxes" is not random! To the south they focus on Vitosha mountain, the Presidential Residence and the National History Museum, and to the north - Sofia ring road.
On the north side, there is a double effect. Not only does the design make the people inside the museum observe the city, but also it makes people outside, pedestrians and passengers in commute, to look at the building and see that there is something interesting inside, art.
+water
Water is one of the important elements of the design. Boyana river flows from the south, under the site through a special piping istallation, to the north. The idea is to visually "connect" the river with the building, as if the river "slits" the building to two parts. This is achieved by artificially raising the water to the level of the building.
Water is one of the important elements of the design. Boyana river flows from the south, under the site through a special piping istallation, to the north. The idea is to visually "connect" the river with the building, as if the river "slits" the building to two parts. This is achieved by artificially raising the water to the level of the building.
+nature/earth/ground
The design idea is to establish a second approach to the building, a more "ritual" one. This is achieved by a strong central axis, path towards the building, which actually acts as a "tunnel" (topless one) that directs people to the museum. In this "tunnel", there are openings in the walls where art materials are exposed.
The design idea is to establish a second approach to the building, a more "ritual" one. This is achieved by a strong central axis, path towards the building, which actually acts as a "tunnel" (topless one) that directs people to the museum. In this "tunnel", there are openings in the walls where art materials are exposed.
ART VISIBLE FROM OUTSIDE / DRAWS ATTENTION
There are two vertical communication options for visitors - one of them with unrestricted access, the other one with limited access.
The vertical communication with unrestricted access connects the parking at -12.00, with the conference center lobby at -8.00 and the central lobby/atrium at 0.00.
The vertical communication with limited access connects the central lobby/atrium at 0.00, with exposition halls at +8.30 and +16.40.
The vertical communication with unrestricted access connects the parking at -12.00, with the conference center lobby at -8.00 and the central lobby/atrium at 0.00.
The vertical communication with limited access connects the central lobby/atrium at 0.00, with exposition halls at +8.30 and +16.40.
