MUSEUM Cyprus

COMPETITION
A subliminal presence of the historical culture upon architectural form, is one of the prominent aspects of our project. As a result of this intention the new building will represent an organic whole, containing the reminiscence of relevant historical elements.

More specifically its urban volume reminds the nearby fortified ramparts and museum’s footprint repeats a letter of the ancient Cypro Sillabic Script, while the sinuous pattern of facade’s sun protection evokes the concentric ancient geometry of Iron Age painted pottery.

This curvilinear envelope, drawn in a “crescent” shaped formula and natural lighting are main design features of the Museum, which integrates building and landscape architecture as well as indoor and outdoor spaces into a unified concept.

The collection, housed inside a multilevel exhibition space, together with visitors amenities, represents a comprehensive picture of human presence in Cyprus. Digital 3D prints reproduce the world widespread joint Agia Irini characters, scenically displayed on the main entrance.

The visitor’s route is a three-dimensional loop, going up from the lobby to the exhibition levels by overlapping stairs.

Upper floor is a peculiar double height space accommodating big historical findings. Two lateral wings, designed as a natural completion of the main glazed volume, host administrative offices, conservation laboratories, Department of Antiquities and the library, while underground floor contains store rooms, conference hall and car park.