RESTORATION FOR NEW EXHIBITION SET-UP AT THE PETROIO TERRACOTTA MUSEUM, TREQUANDA (SI), ITALY
Typology
Interiors and staging
Location
Street Valgelata, 10, Petroio, Trequanda (Siena), Italy
Year
2019 – 2024
Client
Municipality of Trequanda (Siena), Italy
Cost
135.000,00€
Builded surface
450,00sqm
Total surface
450,00sqm
Services rendered
Executive Design Subject to Ministerial Approval (listed building), Works Management and Construction Site Safety
The design approach is almost one of subtraction, particularly in the entrance area: the excellent layout of the entrance, created in the early 2000s, was probably uninviting, obscuring the nature of the building, even in its museum interpretation. In fact, the first room, the reception area, was occlusive. The excessive dominance of heavily structured furniture, from the fixtures to the display cases to the counter and rear area, created a sense of impermeability to the essence of those places and their history. So much so that it was simply suggested that it be removed to improve the space. Another assessment was made, in light of current technologies, regarding the lighting. In detail, this project proposes the expansion of the entrance and ticket office area through the demolition of a partition wall and the removal of the display cases on the counter-façade. Without changing the current entrance to the museum, which will still be through the opening on the right side of the façade, the two central openings will instead be closed by installing two fixed display windows that will provide both natural lighting for the ground floor rooms and a space to display terracotta objects emblematic of the production (large jars or vases). This design choice aims to use these display cases on the façade to better highlight the museum aspect of the building. The two iron and wood-panelled doors (at the entrance and the opening on the left) will be clad in Corten steel on the outside and covered with lacquered sheet metal on the inside, matching the finishes of the fixtures and interiors. The ticket office area will be moved back from its current location and enclosed on either side by two plasterboard display cases, inside which some of the terracotta pieces that were previously displayed in the windows on the counter-façade will be exhibited. The remaining terracotta objects will be relocated within the exhibition space and arranged on the various floors in small display cases, following improved and specific cataloguing. The ticket office furniture will be redesigned taking into account the many aspects that the museum visitor reception area should fulfil: a general information desk, the organisation of guided tours, the sale of publications, the consultation of informative material, etc. The flooring in this area will be revised, proposing oak parquet flooring bordered by a brass strip to separate it from the existing travertine flooring. The current room used to display selected terracotta pieces from Trequanda’s current production will be converted into a consultation and reading room with the addition of tables, chairs and video/computer stations. The municipal administration wishes to open this space so that it can become a meeting place that can also be used by the inhabitants of Petroio. This project does not involve any changes to the floor plans or internal openings with respect to the original state and, in accordance with Law 13/89, the building is accessible to people with disabilities, as shown in the specific plans.
RESTORATION FOR NEW EXHIBITION SET-UP AT THE PETROIO TERRACOTTA MUSEUM, TREQUANDA (SI), ITALY
Typology
Interiors and staging
Location
Street Valgelata, 10, Petroio, Trequanda (Siena), Italy
Year
2019 – 2024
Client
Municipality of Trequanda (Siena), Italy
Cost
135.000,00€
Builded surface
450,00sqm
Total surface
450,00sqm
Services rendered
Executive Design Subject to Ministerial Approval (listed building), Works Management and Construction Site Safety
The design approach is almost one of subtraction, particularly in the entrance area: the excellent layout of the entrance, created in the early 2000s, was probably uninviting, obscuring the nature of the building, even in its museum interpretation. In fact, the first room, the reception area, was occlusive. The excessive dominance of heavily structured furniture, from the fixtures to the display cases to the counter and rear area, created a sense of impermeability to the essence of those places and their history. So much so that it was simply suggested that it be removed to improve the space. Another assessment was made, in light of current technologies, regarding the lighting. In detail, this project proposes the expansion of the entrance and ticket office area through the demolition of a partition wall and the removal of the display cases on the counter-façade. Without changing the current entrance to the museum, which will still be through the opening on the right side of the façade, the two central openings will instead be closed by installing two fixed display windows that will provide both natural lighting for the ground floor rooms and a space to display terracotta objects emblematic of the production (large jars or vases). This design choice aims to use these display cases on the façade to better highlight the museum aspect of the building. The two iron and wood-panelled doors (at the entrance and the opening on the left) will be clad in Corten steel on the outside and covered with lacquered sheet metal on the inside, matching the finishes of the fixtures and interiors. The ticket office area will be moved back from its current location and enclosed on either side by two plasterboard display cases, inside which some of the terracotta pieces that were previously displayed in the windows on the counter-façade will be exhibited. The remaining terracotta objects will be relocated within the exhibition space and arranged on the various floors in small display cases, following improved and specific cataloguing. The ticket office furniture will be redesigned taking into account the many aspects that the museum visitor reception area should fulfil: a general information desk, the organisation of guided tours, the sale of publications, the consultation of informative material, etc. The flooring in this area will be revised, proposing oak parquet flooring bordered by a brass strip to separate it from the existing travertine flooring. The current room used to display selected terracotta pieces from Trequanda’s current production will be converted into a consultation and reading room with the addition of tables, chairs and video/computer stations. The municipal administration wishes to open this space so that it can become a meeting place that can also be used by the inhabitants of Petroio. This project does not involve any changes to the floor plans or internal openings with respect to the original state and, in accordance with Law 13/89, the building is accessible to people with disabilities, as shown in the specific plans.