University museum for contemporary art

The museum is located on one side of a new plaza which integrates it with the university’s cultural center three extant buildings. This new space serves as a pedestrian access to the rest of the cultural complex, a meeting place and an outdoor exhibition and contemporary art performance area. The building consists in a two level circular structure which fits in naturally with the diagonal position of the access road and dialogues with the sharp forms of the surrounding buildings. Its very shape opens it up to the perspectives of both the plaza and the landscape. The public space leads into the building by way of a transparent double height corridor, which divides the museum into two different sections: the larger one, on the western side, houses the exhibition rooms and service units, the smaller one, on the eastern side, the free access public areas. All exhibition rooms, all located/situated on one floor, at the same level as the plaza, are distributed among 6 groups of different dimensions and heights, with controlled natural zenithal light, and interlinked by three interior paths lit through their extremities, as well as by three patios and two terraces. The patios and terraces also serve as exhibition spaces (one of the patios provides light to the public areas on the lower level). These spaces are meant to meet the demands of contemporary art: direct public access to the works of art and dimensions and lightning geared to the needs of artists, museology, and curators. Four of the rooms give out onto the plaza, allowing for their contents to be appreciated by the public outside. Restricted areas, located on the lower level, are accessed through the northern part of the building, where control and surveillance units, the staff’s entrance and a double trailer dock are located. The materials used are exposed white concrete and clear as well as white serigraphic tempered glass.