Museum Extension

Located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the museum extension revolves around its central exhibition piece: the dinosaur skeleton. Thus, the circulation is a spiral, with a set of galleries around it.

In relationship to the existing museum versus the new, the approach is to view them as unity. Although there is a clear visual contrast between them, they are connected at multiple instances. One can easily explore through both buildings back and forth. They are connected both through the second and third level of the existing building.

Moreover, the relationship of the ground level of the whole site is redefined and unified. The whole ground level becomes a public space, fully open from side to side. The underground path also serves as a gathering public space for different activities.

The museum is located in a site characterized by nature around it. The approach is to value this asset, thus the building takes shape with hard angular planes that open up for views at different moments. A series of green terraces, that become an extension of the green site into the building also become a key characteristic in the proposal.