museo maya de america by harry gugger studio and over,under

museo maya de america by harry gugger studio and over,under
rendering completed by neoscape / image courtesy of harry gugger studio and over,under

the collaborative design team of harry gugger studio and over,under has revealed plans for the museo maya de américa, a museum to be built in guatemala city. the venue will promote mayan culture, showcasing artifacts, artworks and information documenting the history of the ancient civilization. the development is among the most ambitious projects in the region, comprising 60,000 square meters of floor space with a construction budget of $60 million USD.

sited at a prominent location at the northern edge a public park, the museum will be immediately visible when exiting the city’s airport. establishing the area as an important cultural hub, the site will also become the home of the region’s children’s museum and the museum of contemporary art.

the venue will showcase artifacts, artworks and information documenting the history of the ancient civilization
rendering completed by neoscape / image courtesy of harry gugger studio and over,under

referencing the architectural language of traditional mayan temples, the building presents this large, abstract form to the surrounding city. the ground floor is dedicated almost entirely to open space, organized for maximum public interaction. the galleries reside within a floating box, and are connected to the lower levels via stairs which ascend around a central courtyard.

the design references the architectural language of traditional mayan temples
rendering completed by neoscape / image courtesy of harry gugger studio and over,under

the structure takes advantage of guatemala’s temperate climate by skillfully incorporating natural ventilation throughout. the walls of the circulation spaces are lined with glass cases displaying the collection of artifacts. the landscaped roof is open to the general public as an accessible civic space containing a restaurant, outdoor galleries, gardens, and viewing terraces. the large surface of the roof will be used to collect rainwater and filter it through the cenote in a manner recalling traditional maya practices of channeling water.

construction is expected to start in 2015, with a scheduled completion date of 2017.

an external dining area
rendering completed by neoscape / image courtesy of harry gugger studio and over,under

‘at first glance, the building appears to be a contemporary expression of mayan architectural elements,’ stated harry gugger, principal of harry gugger studio. ‘it forms a monolithic box perched atop blocks of stone, as if floating above the ground. on closer inspection, a pattern of staggered stone screens is punctuated by over-scaled loggias that draw light into the building and offer glimpses inside.’

the museum is scheduled to be completed by 2017
rendering completed by neoscape / image courtesy of harry gugger studio and over,under

‘with an enormous sense of optimism and a vision for the future, we aim to create a museum that celebrates maya culture and carefully explains it,’ stated fernando paiz, president of the sponsoring organisation fundación museo maya de américa. ‘we want the world to understand the sophistication and richness of this civilization in guatemala and beyond.’

1/11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

project name: museo maya de américa
location: guatemala city, guatemala
program type: museum of maya art and culture
gross floor area: 60,000 sqm
design & planning: 2012 – 2015
construction schedule: 2015 – 2017
client/owners: fundación museo maya de américa
architecture: harry gugger studio ltd. (basel) and over,under (boston)
architect-of-record: seis arquitectos (guatemala city)
visualizations: neoscape – “© courtesy of harry gugger studio and over,under”