Arata Isozaki - Domus - Museum of Mankind

Arata Isozaki
Domus
Museum of Mankind
La Coruña, Spain

La Coruña, a seaport in the Galician region of north western Spain, is known for its fierce ocean wind and the rough waves it creates. Domus, Museum of Mankind, is situated overlooking Orzán Bay near the lighthouse of Hercules; a tower erected by the Romans.

Photo: arcspace

To place a single building on the site, an almost vertical cliff which drops into the sea, called for a simple form that would surpass the scale of the residential backdrop and make a clear impression from far away in scale with the Lighthouse.

Photo: arcspace

The rear facade was designed in the image of a Japanese folding screen. The screen elements have an average height of 11 meters in response to the scale of the surrounding residential area.

Photo: arcspace

The granite panels, backed by concrete, are constructed directly on the rock.

Photo: arcspace

The 94 meter long, 17 meters high curved barrier wall, covered with green slate panels, consists of a series of 2.6 meter precast-concrete units. Using only rock from the Galician region throughout the project Isozaki achieved a sense of lightness not normally associated with stone.

Photo: arcspace

The roof, supported by metal trusses resting perpendicularly on the two walls of totally different character, opens up into a sliding skylight for overhead lighting. The interior concrete wall surfaces are left exposed.

Photo: arcspace

From the Promenade along the shore visitors to the museum ascend a grand stairway, with scenic terraces inserted as rest places, to the entry level 10 meters above the Promenade.

Photo: arcspace

Inside the open-plan exhibition space adapts to the topography by means of a series of ramps linking the three levels of museum space in a linear progression. The events hall is situated above the entrance from the Promenade taking advantage of the section generated by the difference in level. Administration and study areas are situated on the top floor, beneath the skylight which extends around the perimeter.

Photo: arcspace

The exhibition space, from floors to handrails, is faced in slate.

Photo: arcspace

The Museum restaurant, below the exhibition area, has its own entrance.

Here the dialogue with the topography of the cliff is taken to its limits with the rock giving the restaurant a cave like atmosphere.

Photo: arcspace

The wall facing the sea is expanded with a glazed balcony "glass gallery"; a traditional feature of the northern coast of Spain.

Drawing courtesy Arata Isozaki
Site Plan

Drawing courtesy Arata Isozaki
Entry Level Plan

Drawing courtesy Arata Isozaki
Elevation

A zipped image folder will be available to arcspace Members in the near future.

Architects: Arata Isozaki, César Portela
Collaborators:
Toshiaki Tange, Mashato Hori, Naoki Ogawa, Igor Peraza, Frederico Garrido, Amparo Casares, José Luís Gahona, Paulino Sánchez, José A. Suarez

Engineer: Julio Martínez Calzón
Collaborator: Antonio Reboreda

Architectural technicians: José A. Suarez, Pablo Reboredo
Promoter: Concello da Coruña
Constructor: Cubiertas y MZOV, S.A.

Start of construction: 1993
Completion: 1995

April 22, 2002

Arata Isozaki arcspace features





				Features
		Arata Isozaki Domus Museum of Mankind La Coruña, Spain La Coruña, a seaport in the Galician region of north western Spain, is known for its fierce ocean wind and the rough waves it creates. Domus, Museum of Mankind, is situated overlooking Orzán Bay near the lighthouse of Hercules; a tower erected by the Romans. Photo: arcspace To place a single building on the site, an almost vertical cliff which drops into the sea, called for a simple form that would surpass the scale of the residential backdrop and make a clear impression from far away in scale with the Lighthouse. Photo: arcspace The rear facade was designed in the image of a Japanese folding screen. The screen elements have an average height of 11 meters in response to the scale of the surrounding residential area. Photo: arcspace The granite panels, backed by concrete, are constructed directly on the rock. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace The 94 meter long, 17 meters high curved barrier wall, covered with green slate panels, consists of a series of 2.6 meter precast-concrete units. Using only rock from the Galician region throughout the project Isozaki achieved a sense of lightness not normally associated with stone. Photo: arcspace The roof, supported by metal trusses resting perpendicularly on the two walls of totally different character, opens up into a sliding skylight for overhead lighting. The interior concrete wall surfaces are left exposed. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace From the Promenade along the shore visitors to the museum ascend a grand stairway, with scenic terraces inserted as rest places, to the entry level 10 meters above the Promenade. Photo: arcspace Inside the open-plan exhibition space adapts to the topography by means of a series of ramps linking the three levels of museum space in a linear progression. The events hall is situated above the entrance from the Promenade taking advantage of the section generated by the difference in level. Administration and study areas are situated on the top floor, beneath the skylight which extends around the perimeter. Photo: arcspace The exhibition space, from floors to handrails, is faced in slate. Photo: arcspace The Museum restaurant, below the exhibition area, has its own entrance. Here the dialogue with the topography of the cliff is taken to its limits with the rock giving the restaurant a cave like atmosphere. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace The wall facing the sea is expanded with a glazed balcony "glass gallery"; a traditional feature of the northern coast of Spain. Drawing courtesy Arata Isozaki Site Plan Drawing courtesy Arata Isozaki Entry Level Plan Drawing courtesy Arata Isozaki Elevation Drawing courtesy Arata Isozaki Elevation A zipped image folder will be available to arcspace Members in the near future. Architects: Arata Isozaki, César Portela Collaborators: Toshiaki Tange, Mashato Hori, Naoki Ogawa, Igor Peraza, Frederico Garrido, Amparo Casares, José Luís Gahona, Paulino Sánchez, José A. Suarez Engineer: Julio Martínez Calzón Collaborator: Antonio Reboreda Architectural technicians: José A. Suarez, Pablo Reboredo Promoter: Concello da Coruña Constructor: Cubiertas y MZOV, S.A. Start of construction: 1993 Completion: 1995 April 22, 2002 Arata Isozaki arcspace features