Museo Histórico Nacional

Santiago de Chile
2013

The Museo Historico Nacional offers access to Chile’s rich historical heritage. The extension and remodel strengthens the museum’s role as public infrastructure, and ensures its presence in the citizens’ consciousness. In order to live up to its public responsibility, we have structured the museum using a subtle and carefully calibrated hierarchy of openness and accessibility. Our design establishes a sequence from the Plaza de Armas, one of Santiago’s most prominent public spaces, through the open and accessible historic courtyard of the museum, to a reception area at the back-end of the existing building, connecting adjacent event and temporary exhibition spaces in the extension to the permanent exhibition space, covering all of the second floor both of the existing as well as the new building. A roof terrace on the top of the proposed extension offers a panoramic view over Santiago.