Jul 30

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Archaeology Museum of Alava, Vitoria by Francisco Mangado / Mangado & Asociados

Francisco Mangado’s competition-winning archaeology museum provides a modern setting for the exhibits of a historically rich region.

The new museum has taken over the task of housing the towns’ archaeological exhibits from the 16th century palace that previously held them.

Mangado chose to clad it in bronze, one of the first materials to be exploited by humans.

The glass-sided stairs are one element of the architecture that guides visitors as they travel through the significant historic periods of the region.

Mangado has worked closely with the curators of the museum in order to create an effective display system that forms an integral part of the architecture.

The display spaces are dark, lined with wenge, a near-black tropical timber.  This forces the illuminated displays to become the focus of viewers’ attention.

site: Vitoria, Spain

Type Of Project: museum building

total area: 6.000 m2

total cost: 9.000.000 €

year of contest: 2000. First Prize Project Contest

year of project: 2002-2003

year of construction: 2004-2009

client: Diputación Foral de Álava.

architect: Francisco Mangado / Mangado & Asociados

work direction: Francisco Mangado

collaborators:

architecture: José Mª Gastaldo, Richard Král’ovič, Eduardo Pérez de Arenaza.

structural engineering: NB 35 SL (Jesús Jiménez Cañas / Alberto López) Ingenieros.

installations engineering: Iturralde y Sagüés ingenieros / César Martín Gómez.

acoustic engineering: Higini Arau. Estudi Acustic.

lighting: ALS Lighting arquitectos consultores de iluminación (Antón Amann).

quantity surveyor: Laura Montoya López de Heredia.

contractor: UTE Arqueología (Dragados SA, Lagunketa SA).

Photography: Roland Halbe

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