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Naomi Richardson
2 months ago
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1986: A Modern Interpretation of "Classical"

The Museo Nacional de Arte Romano (National Museum of Roman Art) was originally established in 1838 within the Church of Santa Clara in Mérida, Spain, to house artifacts discovered through local archaeological excavations. With the extensive archaeological discoveries in the early 20th century, the collection expanded rapidly, outgrowing its original location. Consequently, in 1979, the renowned Spanish architect Rafael Moneo was commissioned to design a new building, which officially opened on September 19, 1986. The new museum faces the ancient Roman theater, embodying a dialogue and integration between historical and contemporary urban textures. 🏛️ The façade of the new museum is composed of a series of towering red-brick semicircular arches. These arches not only echo the three-tiered arched structure of the theater across the street but also reinterpret the spatial order of Roman forum architecture with modern techniques, creating a dignified yet light entry sequence. 🏛️ The walls, columns, and vaults are all constructed with slender, standardized modern red bricks, adorned with dot-patterned gold and red mosaics that interact with the natural light filtering through the dome skylights, creating a warm and layered play of light and shadow. As architectural critic Robert Campbell remarked, "The use of light here is nothing short of masterful, like an ever-changing golden baptism." 🌟 The central "great hall" exhibition space within the museum is inspired by the rectangular atrium layout of ancient Roman religious architecture. The upper level serves as the exhibition space, while the lower level is the "underground crypt" (cripta). Visitors can overlook the well-preserved ancient city ruins through slender columns and arches, experiencing a spatial overlay that spans millennia. Additionally, an underground passage leading to the ancient Roman theater extends the exploration of the city's spatial fabric. 🏛️ Moreover, the museum preserves a corner of the ancient Roman roadbed and irregular ground in the exhibition hall, breaking the orthogonal order of modern architecture and emphasizing the design philosophy of "site authenticity" through contrast and coexistence. This approach reflects respect for archaeological heritage and a dialogue with contemporary architectural language. The entire building modestly adopts a stance of "architecture serving the exhibits," with no redundant decorations—only simple arches, meticulous material joints, and spatial tension under natural light. The museum serves as a vessel for Roman civilization and is itself a contemporary classic. 🏛️ #ArchitectureDesign #DesignTalks #MuseumDesign #Spain #Mérida #InteriorDesign #SpatialDesign #AncientRome #DesignAesthetics #ArchitecturalAesthetics

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