PROJECT: Museum extension in old Casa Misericòrdia Church.

 

Since the museum is located in the old city, the importance of opened outdoor spaces becomes crucial.

The yard's charm is obvious, so the possible extension towards the orange trees garden should not be neglected.

Other features should be taken into consideration:

-The church looses quality when divided in multiple levels. Thus, the new construction will respect the height of the church in its interior and grow towards the street façade -assuming its precarious state and lack of charm- acquiring a totally diferent character, formally more related to the existing museum in the other side of the street.

-Public equipments require an easy comprehension and a clear entrance.

The new façade marks the entrance in the ground floor. 

-Understanding preexistences as a built volume. In order to appreciate the beauty of the existing church, we preserve all its height in the interior space, and the arches that conform its structure.

 

The museum entrance is offered to pedestrians as a choice to venture into the museum from the absis, following a route guided by temporary outdoor exhibitions located in the ground floor.

It is clearly directed by a street-museum-garden transparency

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The arches of the patio façade are preserved offering a direct visual and physical relation with the yard not only for visitors but also for sunlight.

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The direct connexion with the existing museum is for staff use only, and it is through an underground pathway that connects both storage floors. 

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