EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum

<p>a vintage painted facade has been restored and fused with a translucent glass construction, maintaining the character of the established surrounding context while providing an illuminated interior for the collection of religious art pieces.</p>

lauren grieco April 18, 2012 3 min

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 1 ‘easter sculpture museum’ by EXIT architects, hellín, albacete, spain image © fernando guerra all images courtesy of EXIT architects

an existing building within the winding streets of the town of hellín, spain, the casa del conde, has been transformed into the ‘easter sculpture museum’ by spanish firm EXIT architects. the original painted facade which responds to the adjacent church and surroundings has been restored while the rest of the house was replaced with a contemporary gallery. fusing the vintage facade and new exhibition areas, the translucent glass-enclosed volume fulfills the original footprint and maintains the established scale relationships of the context, adjusting the arrangement of the levels to adapt to the sloping terrain.

the use and inclusion of local stone as a building material integrates the character of the town. setback from the retained structure, a plaza is created at the main entrance for visitors as well as a large portal which opens the exposed facade. a bright interior surfaced with white concrete surrounds the display spaces. art pieces stand upon wooden boxes, organizing the circulation through the collections. the combination of illumination and materiality support the religious tone of the collections.

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 2 (left) original painted facade and nearby church (right) access to the museum from the street images © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 3 (left) public plaza created by setback facade (right) facade detail images © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 4 image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 5 glass doors in the open position image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 6 moving screen into place image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 7 main gallery space image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 8 moveable display boxes image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 9 historic building context pervades the contemporary gallery image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 10 image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 11 interior of exhibition area image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 12 image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 13 wooden boxes for display of art image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 14 view of tiered space image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 15 wooden boxes serves as seating image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 16 gallery image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 17 image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 18 image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 19 image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 20 images © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 21 upper level image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 22 access to roof terrace image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 23 roof terrace image © fernando guerra

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 24 site plan

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 25 floor plan / level 0

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 26 floor plan / level 1

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 27 floor plan / level 2

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 28 section

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 29 section

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 30 section

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 31 elevation

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 32 elevation

EXIT architects: easter sculpture museum - 33 elevation

project info:

project: easter sculpture museum. hellín. albacete architects: EXIT architects, ibán carpintero / mario sanjuán client: public works ministry / hellín municipality built area: 2.160 m2 budget: 3.512.235 euros project: 2002 completion: 2011 collaborators: miguel garcía-redondo, silvia n. gómez, ángel sevillano, josé mª tabuyo technical architects: alberto palencia / josé antonio alonso mechanical consultant: maintenance ibérica structural consultant: indagsa (josé luis cano)