Lapidarium Museum / Randić & Turato
Architects: Randić & Turato / Saša Randić and Idis Turato
Location: Novigrad, Croatia
Client: Town Novigrad
Collaborator: Leora Drazul (Technical Architect)
Construction: Dragan Ribaric
Commission type: Invited Competition
Project Area: 780 sqm
Project year: 2003
Construction year: 2006
Photographs: Randić & Turato
Novigrad Lapidarium Museum houses the collection of early medieval monuments, architectural sculpture and church furnishings, which all come from the neighboring cathedral.
Building is situated inside the park bordered by the cathedral and residential buildings on the other sides. One of the specifics of Novigrad, in comparison with other historical towns on the western coast of Istria, is that it has a large proportion of parks inside the historical city structure. This condition has been recognized as significant for the project.
floor plan
Lapidarium is essentially two black boxes and the park. The boxes reconstruct the original rooms of the remains. The hexagonal concrete box represents the baptistery inside which the stone remains of the ciborium are displayed in their original position. The rectangular box is proportioned in relation with the altar partition exhibited inside it.
All the remaining space is opening to the park covered by a roof supported by the two boxes, glazed with the rotational glass panels that open on the park. During the events housed by the Museum, the building performs as a central stage, using the whole park extending to the public square on the other side of the cathedral.
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- floor plan
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- elevation 01
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- elevation 02
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3 comments »
Despite the many conditions that this project had to respond the built result seems so very obvious and natural. Within a residential, intimate and protective small-scale town area, this new building looks both protected by and representative to its neighbourhood – and this is surely an effect of the exceptionally discreet and gentle approach that gave architectural shape to this object. It really feels like the optimum choice for the given context and this is the first impression that comes to mind when facing it. This new museum is a contemporary courtesy to both the past and the future – as all museums should be.
Yet again I’m very impressed by a project from Croatia. That country seems to be encouraging high standards for its contemporary architecture and it’s great to see. I like the weightiness of this pavillion but the way it seems to draw you inside at the same time.
What is new…a harmonious dialog with the old…as long as it was a thougt. I think the enclosure of the monument could express the site environment even more, by respecting the culture too, not just the monument itself.