Image: Casanova + Hernandez Architecten © All rights reserved.

© Casanova+hernandez Architects . Published on July 20, 2007.

The Canary Museum represents the identity of the canary people and the new extension of the existing museum seeks to preserve and to promote the architectonic traditional values of the islands, pushing them at the same time into the future.

Image: Casanova + Hernandez Architecten © All rights reserved.

© Casanova+hernandez Architects . Published on July 20, 2007.

Seven existing protected buildings and one new volume will be integrated in a bigger complex.

Image: Casanova + Hernandez Architecten © All rights reserved.

© Casanova+hernandez Architects . Published on July 20, 2007.

The facades of the existing buildings are preserved. In the interior the existing patios and the structure is preserved, but the added elements are cleaned.

Image: Casanova + Hernandez Architecten © All rights reserved.

© Casanova+hernandez Architects . Published on July 20, 2007.

A new block is located on the corner where flows of visitors from other historic buildings of the city meet. This corner is designed in a way that doesn’t touch the existing volumes, thus providing two ‘fissures’ where the main accesses are situated. Its skin is made of ‘intriguing’ lattices that filter the natural light and provide a strong ‘silent’ image to the new architecture.

Image: Casanova + Hernandez Architecten © All rights reserved.

© Casanova+hernandez Architects . Published on July 20, 2007.

The museum is organized in three levels:

Image: Casanova + Hernandez Architecten © All rights reserved.

© Casanova+hernandez Architects . Published on July 20, 2007.

1 ACCESS LEVEL: THE PUBLIC SQUARE

Image: Casanova + Hernandez Architecten © All rights reserved.

© Casanova+hernandez Architects . Published on July 20, 2007.

The entrance level is though as a public inner square, meeting point of visitors from where they can go to the main public uses such as library, shop, restaurant, caf�, temporary exhibitions room and auditorium.

2 SECOND LEVEL: EXHIBITION SPACE / PATIOS-SKYLIGHTS

From the public square one big staircase lead to the upper level where the exhibition rooms are located. The architectonical ‘promenade’ goes through all the spaces without losing its visual contact with the main ‘square’ below.

Each space has a patio crowned by one skylight that filters the light by means of lattice skins as those of the fa�ade.

3 THIRD LEVEL: THE BELVEDERE-TERRACE

By using wooden platforms and sculptorical skylights, the roof becomes an artificial landscape from where the Cathedral, the mountains and the ocean can be fully enjoyed. As the roof of ‘La Pedrera’ in Barcelona, this one will become one important meeting point for the visitors of the islands.

AWARD: first honorable mention

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This project appeared on europaconcorsi home page slideshow dedicated to dutch architecture. The series was realized in cooperation with Miguel Loos. We thank him for his help, kindness and professional advice.