A Casa: Brazilian Object Museum
When art expert Renata Mellão decided to transform her own house into a museum dedicated to Brazilian craftsmanship, she needed a space that communicated its purpose to the outside viewers. The terrain presented another challenge: The site was a unique, triangular shape.
Considering the restricted, sloping terrain, we incorporated the museum’s entrance into an existing public square, creating a transition between public an private space. The museum’s façade refers to basketry art—an architectural reading of Brazil’s most popular expression of cultural art. The result is a welcoming space dedicated to the exhibition and history of Brazilian handcraft.
Visitors enter the museum via the square through a series of sequential levels on a diagonal path.
At the pedestrian level, the project’s unique solution for it’s triangular shape is revealed. The V-shaped concrete edge beam on the first floor juts out from the building. These beams mark the beginning of the entry point and create benches for visitors and passersby.
