The Jewish Ramp Museum of Prague

Politecnico di Milano, Polytechnic University of Milan, School of Design

Project idea

The urban context of Prague has witnessed changes and developments throughout history. The urban fabric of Prague was formed by the first merchants and immigrants who came to the city and settled there, thanks to the existing river.
During the medieval and the world wars, due to the devastation, migration, and sometimes minority exile in a certain area of the city, the urban context and demographic diversity of Prague have undergone major disruptions and changes so that having planning for urban dynamism and cohesion seems like an urgent need.
In recent years, Prague urban experts and designers have decided to review Prague urban plans. Thus, the priority of urban plans is to revitalize and connect as many urban spaces as possible, rather than to expand the city.
The ramp museum of Prague is a precious building with a clear concept and strong impact. The location context, with its courtyards and buildings, can be considered as starting point for the Museum image, it replies both to the immediate site surroundings and to the city of Prague as a whole. This is done by responding to different articulations of volume.

Project description

Through subtle but significant shifts of each volume, the building gains a dynamic quality that will both attract visitors to the museum and provide visual delight that both distinguishes it from and connects it to the nearby architecture. By shifting the boxes and adding courtyards we open up views to the different levels of the building and provide all galleries with semi natural light.
The architects chose to enhance the urban character of the building without detracting significantly from its form, allowing it to remain an experiential and visual piece in itself. The transition between old and new is not always obvious, however. By opening the landscape around the convent of Saint Agnes, the architects sought to make a natural approach to a seemingly monolithic building. The gardens mediate between the museum and surrounding, providing access from one direction.
Evidently, at night the Museum shows life from the inside with artificial lights shining through the hidden openings, enhancing the gaps between the volumes and giving more lightness to the massive building.
The building is divided into three parts. The first part is dedicated to public functions such as an amphitheater, entrance, cloakroom, ticket office, etc. The second part is the heart of the project which provides the main access between other parts and connecting all the levels. The third part is the most private one that some classrooms and offices existed there.
Two solid volumes play the main role in the circulation in the building throu¬gh the ramps and staircases. This is arranged on an axis that reflects the urban elements.
Moving through the layers of the building aims to reflect the different layers of history of the site as seen in particular with the layers of the former Josefov quarter cemetery.
After all the explorations and walking through the building, somewhere deep in the ground there is another kind of atmosphere. From the underground area, you see a series of floating volumes. The volumes that contain amphitheater, galleries, offices, classrooms, and other functions, are seen as floating objects from the basement. This is where the courtyards, ramps, stairs, and elevators come together to shape a new space.

Technical information

The program of the Museum consists of permanent and temporary galleries, which have free and flexible spaces for exhibitions; an auditorium on the ground floor, an Education Center, and offices on the south side of the building which is divided into different levels.
The main material that is used in this project is concrete to make precious simple surfaces and glass for openings.
As mentioned, the ramp museum of Prague can be a response to the rupture of existing urban spaces, and it is hoped that this museum will once again convey the necessary urban dynamism and connection to the region.

Documentation

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