Gaia’s landmark: New Environment Museum
hori-zonte proposes the ‘new environment museum‘ in gaia, portugalIt is embedded into the vast rural landscapes. It takes the form of a green veil. It is integrated into the landscape and provides a qualified public area for the local community. The Underground center strives to stand out not only for its conceptual approach, but also for its engagement in the city, its local characteristics, nature, and its commitment to fundamental vectors such urban harmony, social endorsement, smart-bioclimatic design, and economic endorsement.
The museum’s entrance is through several cutouts in its green roof. These cutouts bring light inside.
All images by horizonte
ARCHITECTURAL PORTAL TO NATURE
The final design seeks to foster harmony between visitors and the landscape while respecting its history. As one walks the site, you will see traces of the former structures, monuments, as well as the ruins of old ceramic production halls. The old chimneys and furnaces are embedded in the park and museum, becoming part thereof. The green veil of the hilly roof, which is accessible to all, transforms into a topography.
The Design teamThey wanted to create a visual connection that blurred the lines between indoor and outdoor. They cut the green roof, which partially lets light into the museum’s interior, to achieve this goal. This allows the park and center to become one. Nature can grow down and enter through the patios.
the environment museum’s roofscape: a new park for the city’s inhabitants and a greener outcome to the building’s performance
The museum promotes temporal dynamism as well as a variety of experiences for visitors throughout the year. It aims to promote the principles of biodiversity, bioclimatic design, and other aspects of biodiversity. The new design incorporates the structures of the ceramic industrial halls and the rest of the earth. the old brick walls become the new walls of the main exhibition spaces, like the earth, which can be transformed into the green roof’s soil. This project was designed to encourage reuse, reduction and reproduction of resources. It also encouraged responsible and social thinking.
Gallery between two exhibition halls. there’s a continuous relation between indoors and outdoors throughout the whole building, connecting the museum with the nature outside
The reception area and interaction with the park at the top through the various patios
