The site, a field bordering a riverbank, is truly spectacular. On such a sensitive historical site, our objective has been to integrate a discreet building within the preserved landscape. The organization of exhibition and public spaces erases boundaries between inside and outside, so that all public functions have a close proximity to the exterior environment. A continuous path between gallery spaces, interior courtyards and gardens places the museum within the choreography of the existing landscape.
The various functions of the museum - exhibitions, research, conservation, restaurant and administration - necessitate a building on one level. The horizontally of the building is hence in visual contrast with the undulating landscape, a contrast that the architecture of the building seeks to enhance.
From the access road, the building is read as a horizontal line barely touching the landscape. From the existing Memorial and the riverbank, the museum opens to reveal gallery spaces arranged around the internal courtyard.
