MUA

The Museum of Underwater Antiquities, was divided in two elements based on the notion of ‘Viollet-le-Duc’: the negative element being the void, whilst the positive being the vertical and horizontal elements that define a space (walls and slabs). The link between these two elements, which defines the unity of the space is man. Therefore, the architectural space cannot be applied without the presence of man. The change of use of the industrial Silo building into a Museum of Underwater Antiquities posed two parametric challenges. On the one hand, we had to create a functional architectural space for the public and on the other hand, to showcase the industrial functionality of the building towards the observer. Thus we engaged with contemporary and open-minded archaeologists. As ‘architects’, we had to change the building’s scale, reducing it from the size of the ‘machine’ to the size of ‘man’, without betraying the machine since as ‘archaeologists’ it was our duty to expose and highlight it in all its mechanical glory. The deep incision which we applied through the center of the building was the optimum solution in solving these two challenges. It exposes the Silo’s industrial functionality whilst providing it with an architectural identity. This application resulted in the creation of a large central space which invites one to reach the ‘heart’ of this building’s industrial architectural identity; an atrium; a deep fissure; the sea bed? This interpretation has an imminent impact on the visitor, on their sensitivity and their fears, their unconsciousness and their logic thought process, causing them to send out their own ‘signals’ that are activated by the building.