Ethnographic Museum in Orava, Slovakia

STU in Bratislava - Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Architecture

Project idea

For the problem of parking I designed an underground parking lot and thus made place for the park besides the museum. I also designed a promenade next to the waterfront. In the project I was inspired by the MÉCA by BIG, GREENLAND NATIONAL GALLERY by BIG and ROMSDAL FOLK MUSEUM by REIULF RAMSTAD ARKITEKTER and also by folk architecture of the Orava region. That is why I used local materials in my project. Also the building has a sloping roof which is no suprise in this area. The facade of the building is covered by wooden shingle. The building is parallel to the main street. The museum is opened in the middle and thus does not create a barrier between the walkway by the road and the promenade by the water, The whole waterfront is connected with the level of the street with stairs and ramps. Next to the outdoor stairs there are sitting places designed to enjoy the amazing view at the nature.

Project description

The project is located in Slovakia in the region of Orava in the town of Námestovo. The goal of the project was to design an ethnographic museum. The parcel is located next to the Orarava water reservoir. In this area there is a pond-like part which was used for water-ski in the past. There are beautiful views of the mountains nearby from this area. This area of the town is not actively used, there is just a supermarket and the road devides it from the more actively used part of the town. There is no pedestrian or bicycle zone next to the water. Next to the supermarket is a big parking lot and a park absent of trees.

Technical information

As I mentioned there are subterraineal parking places under the museum. This level is connected to the street and to the promenade by stairs and ramps. At this level there is also the technical room.
The 1st level above ground is devided into 2 parts. In the 1st part there is a restaurant, kitchen, storage, staircase, entry space for the employees and changing rooms. In the 2nd part there is entry space for the visitors of the museum, for the visitors of the library, souvenir shop, toilets and staircase.
On the 2nd level there is a library, multifunctional room for workshops and lectures, storage, administrative spaces. The facade is made so that the multifunctional space gets natural sunlight.
on the 3rd and 4th level there are exhibition spaces and storage spaces.

The building is designed to made of CLT panels. The static system of the building is sceletal. The building also has an extensive green roof.