Carthage National Museum

Urban And Landscape Integration Concept
Given the fact that Byrsa hill represents the central landmark of the surrounding 12 Archeological sites that come together forming the complete constellation of our window to Tunisia’s history, our project aims to highlight this flow of connections by creating a scenery that helps the visitor’s imagination to picture and ultimately live a moment of history through the directions of the landscaping. Barely changing the existing and ‘randomly’ crafted pedestrian paths, we emphasised them by conserving the existing vegetation and highlighting the paths. The designers are aware of the fact that the spatial  communication between the multiple archeological sites, especially the 8 ones accessible with the single ticket can be sometimes misleading for some visitors. To avoid that, colors have been used to highlight the directions to the surrounding sites all along the pedestrian paths. This aims at keeping the educational atmosphere interactive for kids especially, but also fairly leading and clear to adults who will be invited, through these directions, to continue their journey to the surrounding sites. One of the most important landscape interventions is the equal accessibility to wheelchair users by adding ramps next to the stairs of the different levels on site as well as to the former Saint-Louis de Carthagel cathedral’s entrance. Given the fact that the site usage is flexible and not exclusively dedicated to its function as a museum, recreational areas and picnic spaces are created within the existing green space with minimal interventions like guiding paths and urban fourniture. It is important to not neglect the high temperatures that can be reached in summer months that’s why shadowing element, water fountains and relaxation benches are provided to grant a comfortable socializing experience to different age users.

 Architectural Context And The Museum Additional Structure
With the field data, context values and the operation scheme foreseen for the museum’s function were examined in order to obtain a qualified and identity space. The simplicity of the architectural context to be achieved is given importance. The entire design approach responds to flexible program elements through its simplicity. It tries to create a unique language that includes contemporary architectural criteria. The additional part buildings are positioned to provide maximum benefit from solar control and natural ventilation, and this has been taken into consideration in interior solutions as well. The relationship of the new input structure with the existing buildings is discussed in the context of architecture and memory. The establishment of joint  socializing areas is the main element in the formation of the new building. As a result, it has been tried to design a living museum campus with its rich spatial functions and social areas shaped by its users, instead of a dominant architectural understanding. In conclusion, the design is an attempt to create a living museum that highlights its rich spatial functions and social value shaped by the dynamic of its various users, instead of focusing on a dominant architectural approach.

The new entrance structure takes its form and position from the arcade structure (Portiques) that existed in the area during the Roman and Byzantine periods. The main purpose of the idea is to reveal the historical layers existing in the area through a contemporary setup and landscape in order to give the visitor this historical experience. The layers uncovered by making use of the traces of the past aim to strengthen the urban memory and aim to enhance the feeling of belonging while being articulated as a contemporary intervention to the building.

The proposal of the new entrance structure, with its reference to arcades, distinctly emerges as a contemporary intervention on the existing museum structure by transforming the original roof into a hipped roof. While the new entrance structure meets the functions of the museum proposal such as the entrance hall, foyer, and temporary exhibition, it also transforms it into a semi-open and multi-purpose activity area that can be opened when necessary and can live together with the courtyard and its surroundings.