m u s e u m ingres–bourdelle extesion project project concept 

1 SITUATION

SITE, PLOT

The plot is located in an urban gap limited by the massive Ingres museum on its northern boundary and two perpendicular containment walls that isolate in height the nearby busy town center but yet focus its sight on to the clinging limits of the city over the river Tarn.

The most important elements found and experienced on site that define our project are:

- The dialogue with the river establishing some direct sights as well as a straight physical contact with it.

- The need to set a relation between the existing museum and the new intervention, but nonetheless preserving the autonomy and character of each separate element.

LANDSCAPE

A particular and complex encounter between two different contexts: firstly, the flowing river that provides a clear and undoubtful border or geographical definition splashing both sides with natural elements, secondly, the urban extension of Montauban stretched along both banks of the river. Contrast of textures and materials, mass against liquid.  

PROGRAM: WHAT IS THE BUILDING, FUNCTION

There’s been a previous reflexive stage regarding the objectives and aims sought in this project, mainly focusing on the meaning and possibilities set by the functionalism of a museum. We are completely aware of the reversible and flexible nature of the current program present in the latest built museums that has definitely washed away the undeniable presupposed concepts concerning the exhibition of art and culture. Thus, the development of the project has been turned in an experimentation and redefinition way seeking to find a functional and pleasant solution. The internal organization of the building, the exhibition methods, the supply of different cultural activities and the treatment given to the exterior issues are the crucial aspects that will give shape and definition to the design.

The satisfaction required by the proposed program is key to the development and final result of this exercise, we must not forget the straight and clear needs demanded by a museum. The presence of exhibition galleries, internal circulations, a conference room, a café, a bookshop and the necessary elements will be sorted out and structured in an experimental way in order to exploit the mentioned experimentation possibilities.

2 INTERESTS, TOPICS/IDEAS

Our priority is to get a dynamic and free walkthrough that provides an intimate and fluid relation between the visitor and the artworks. This issue is materialized by the fact that the visitors aren’t forced to continue a clear path inducing an unhurried discovery and experimentation of the museum. This fact is part of one the rendering purposes of this project, the need to avoid exposing the essence and soul of the museum at a first glance. The interaction between the set of volumes and the empty spaces along with the use of light and shadows gives our museum a space and atmosphere shifting behavior.                                                    

3 REFERENCES

To be mentioned during the exposition.

4 IDEAS

Connection between two different sites and contexts.

Integration with the close surroundings and the general landscape of the city/river.

Avoid the insertion of intrusive elements that could spoil the whole longitudinal elevation.

Provide both visitors and citizens with a new and adapted connection between heights.

Unity or marked rhythm by means of the use of different elements.

Exploration of the possibilities offered by the work on different volumes and geometry.

Dual relations between negative and positive spaces.

Clarifying architecture, understandable building, but surprising and unpredictable progression.

Creation of new public spaces, direct connection to the river, regeneration of a wasted piece of urban hatch. 

Importance of light and illumination supply, different ways of facing this problem.

Generation of different routes and tracks based on the volumetric game applied.