Student Work
1∕8
Title
Advanced Studio Project
Project Description
Nestled in the heart of Brazil, where religious traditions intricately weave into urban design, Ouro Preto stands as a testament to a history rich in faith and gold. The project is a gold museum that endeavors to revive the profound link between divinity and gold, illuminating the precious metal’s significance overlooked in the city’s planning. The Gold Museum sitting in the town center near churches and markets, redefines the interplay between the church and gold. Its towering form, a beacon in the cityscape, sparks a visual dialogue with neighboring churches, emphasizing tactility in its exterior design to invite a physical connection with gold.
Inside, a central cone challenges gold’s traditional untouchable nature, offering visitors a tactile and intimate encounter with the precious metal. The museum’s design unfolds as a journey, with a golden-framed mirror wall signaling entry to the underground exhibits. The central hall blurs boundaries between the subterranean and the outside world. Descending through the central cone, exploration of exhibition rooms reveals Ouro Preto’s distinctive textures. The culmination occurs in an outdoor exhibition space, seamlessly transitioning from human-made to natural surroundings, the surfaces echoing the overarching gold theme, creating a harmonious blend of history, faith, and tactile engagement.