Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’ in Barcelona, Spain by SVArquitectura

Article source: SVArquitectura

The proposal aims to preserve and rehabilitate the old medieval Royal Palace and the chapel of San Pellegrino and to transform them into a part of the new museum. The building in between them has to be demolished and replaced by a new one which forms the keystone of the entire ensemble. The void left by the demolition of the building ‘Cal Pa i Figues’ will be partially occupied by the construction of this new volume, attached to the Gothic palace and of the same height as its tower. The unoccupied part of the void allows defining a passage along the chapel of San Pellegrino which gives access to the new main entrance. This solution reminds to corresponding situations in the neighborhood.

Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’

• Architects: SVArquitectura
• Project: Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’
• Location: Vilafranca del Penedès, Barcelona, Spain
• Client: Public
• Project: fase I 2007, fase II 2010
• Area: 9.400 m2
• Budget: 8.389.378 €
• Structure: GMK associats SL
• Installations: Proisotec enginyeria SLP
• Project management: Esteve Sitjà
• Technical architect: Esteve Sitjà
• Prize: First prize at restricted competition 2003

Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’

The new building introduces an attitude of modernity and underlines its public character. The body of the new building appears at the Jaume First Square, opposite to the cathedral forming the new main entrance. On the other hand, the extension of the new building permits to connect with other buildings on Hermenegild Clascar Street which will be rebuilt and incorporated to the ensemble in the future.

The new museum will be a highlighted reference within the urban pattern of the historic city. In the future it will be possible to access from the square as well as from Clascar Street to the museum and the two inferior floors of the new building will link the entrances to the main hall and to all units of the whole museum: the galleries, the shop, the administration offices, the seminar rooms, the screening room, the tavern and the tasting room.

Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’

The new museum also will serve as cultural forum of the city and, therefore, facilities must be open and flexible to allow simultaneous and independent performance of activities of social interest. The strategic placement of the catering services in the ground floor, open to a courtyard and connected to the museum lobby, the screening room and the seminars reveals the spirit of operational autonomy.

Despite the strength and size of the new Museum building the complex remains completely integrated into the urban context. The design concept intertwines the urban environment with the interior of the museum complex using an interstice to create an exterior space as continuation of the public square. Due to its transparency the entrance hall itself appears as part of this patio.

Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’

We propose an architecture which is more operational than formal, where the ability to adapt to changes and the flexibility to use the space and the services constitute the crucial factors. An architecture that combines the simplicity of the concept with the complexity of the specific articulation of the different aspects to which it responds: a building with its different parts carefully worked out but well integrated as well.

Spatial interrelationship

The design for the new museum offers a variety of different spaces. The visitor will experience the particular proportions and visual relations of each area while walking through the building always guided by the orderly designed circulation system. At certain points the relation with different exterior spaces offers additional orientation. Due to the heterogeneous character of the exposition, we look to create a relaxed and neutral atmosphere. Therefore the presence of strictly tectonic elements (building structure, carpentry, emergency stairs) is reduced to its most simple expression.

Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’

Light and color

A common dilemma in the design of museums is how to deal with the impact of natural illumination. The controlled access of natural light into the building is given from the courtyards and several skylights, primarily focused on the entrance hall and circulation areas. Generally the light constitutes an important element to define the character of the different areas, as well as the color and the textures of materials.

Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’

History and memory

The square of Jaume First “is the historic square, monumental and of most prestige of the village” quotes a local guide to the architecture of Vilafranca. We like the place with its peculiar mixture of historic, private and institutional buildings. The architecture of the new museum and the square should definitely merge in a harmonious way, as it happens in the best moments of the evolvement of the historic city. According to this principle, the new building will integrate into the existing structure of circulation and vitalize it.

Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’

Wine Museum ‘Vinseum’

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Plan

Plan

Tags: Barcelona, Spain

Category: Museum

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