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Abstract: The inclusion of the public/visitors in museum functions has led to the replace-
ment of the concept of museum by that of contemporary museum, that is, it has resulted in
the emergence of new museology, which has transformed museums into places that promote
broad public access to real-life experiences and emotions. What distinguishes contemporary
museology from traditional museology is that museums today engage in interactive commu-
nication with the public. Therefore, visitors of museums, which have been designed based on
modern functions and new understanding, are more open to different experiences and enjoy
them more. Contemporary exhibitions of artworks attract more visitors, and activity areas in
museums turn into meeting points where visitors can sip their coffee and enjoy a chat. It is,
therefore, clear that contemporary museums are and will be important landmarks that bring
together history, art and culture.
1 Introduction
The term “museum” has the connotations of “protection,” “safekeeping” and “tra-
dition.” Everything in museums constitutes the world of protection, knowledge,
culture and aesthetics. Museums, which are socio-cultural laboratories in a sense,
serve as repositories of historical and social developments (1).
Museums are the most important institutions bringing the history of cities to
today. Museums also play a key role in keeping cultural heritage alive by enabling
us to preserve the past in our memories and handing it down to future generations.
As İslamoğlu (2) states: “The safeguarding of cultural heritage allows for cultural
continuity and creates a sense of history in the minds of people, who, then, can
better understand the present.”
Museums not only serve the general public, but also respond to the needs of
various researchers and experts. Museums have different stakeholders with dif-
ferent perspectives such as visitors, scientists, historians, students, educators, and
local/central public or private museum managers and staff, and therefore, can be
regarded as institutions that serve different purposes. For some, the mission of
museums is to contribute to the education of society and to increase its intellectual
capacity by advancing and expanding knowledge while some see them as a venue
for intellectual entertainment and leisure, and some others consider them to be
research centers.
Globalization has also facilitated the change in people’s perception of museums.
Museums are one of the most important venues in reflecting the cultural heritage
276 Funda K. Açici
of cities, which are also the focal point of globalization. Bringing new meanings
and roles to cities, this position also results in dramatic transformations in a wide
spectrum ranging from urban life to urban spaces (3). Globalization has acceler-
ated communication and liberated people by virtually removing borders among
nations. This has found its reflection in people’s lives and in spaces as well (4). This
reflection has given rise to a contemporary museum concept.
institutions. Viewers no longer want to visit exhibitions in which they are super-
vised by someone else. Contemporary museums should give the audience a pur-
pose, help them find answers to their questions and be organized in a way that
promotes participatory design processes, which are crucial for meaning-making.
Participation from within the museum refers to cultural heritage creators (through
museum objects or by direct participation), museum experts and other museum
stakeholders contributing to the process of learning, entertainment and inspira-
tion. Participation from outside the museum refers not only to visitors partici-
pating in exhibitions, screenings, educational events, live presentations and guided
tours, keeping up with museum publications and using museums’ information
services but also to non-museum institutions and organizations (public institutions
and organizations, non-governmental organizations and universities) cooperating
with museums (6).
Contemporary museums should include all the aforementioned concepts and
activities and be open to new ideas and creative approaches in order to respond to
the needs of the time and take it further.
Fig. 3: Guggenheim, New York (17).
Centre Pompidou blurs the boundaries between entertainment and education. The
impressive, subjective and sculptural design of the museum building is presented
as the most effective formula to emphasize this blurring. However, the museum
building could not have been conceived, if it had not been for the transnational
capital pouring into global cities. Competitive cities in the global economy turn
Contemporary Approaches in Museum Space Design 281
shortlisted three times, Zaha Hadid won the 2010 RIBA Stirling Prize, which is
one of the most prestigious architectural awards, against a strong candidate, David
Chipperfield, who restored the Neues Museum. The 2010 RIBA Stirling Prize Jury
described MAXXI as “a building for the staging of art, and whilst provocative at
many levels, this project shows a calmness that belies the complexities of its form
and organization.” In November of the same year, Zaha Hadid won the World
Architecture Festival (WAF) World Building of the Year (14).
MAXXI was designed by Zaha Hadid and completed in 2009. Since then, it has
been one of the most important museums of Rome, known for its cultural and artistic
richness. MAXXI is the first national museum of contemporary art in Italy (Fig. 6).
In designing the museum, Zaha Hadid set out to establish an “art campus”
with an interior design consisting of passageways that would overlap and con-
nect to create interactive spaces. She has created a layout based on flexibility. The
continuity of the exhibition areas allows these spaces to be used for temporary
and mobile exhibitions. She avoided designing walls or any obstacles that would
impede the continuity of the exhibition areas. The fundamental elements of the
museum building are in the courtyard at the entrance. The sinuously curving con-
crete walls and suspended black staircases connecting the floors form the main
architectural identity of the building (Fig. 7).
Contemporary Approaches in Museum Space Design 283
Some exhibition areas in the courtyard and museum are naturally illuminated
by sunlight. Zaha Hadid has designed a geometric layout with different perspec-
tive points and a fragmentary space to provide inter-site flow. This system is not
regular but chaotic, as in life itself. This chaotic system and the reconstructed flow
model are in contrast with the classical, historical and static structure of Rome.
However, she used classical touches in her design and formed a bridge between
the two disparate worlds.
The smooth, curved walls and the general configuration of the building are con-
sistent with the classical symmetrical facade design. In addition, the structure of the
building was characterized by the condition of the surrounding buildings. MAXXI’s
geometry was designed according to the axles of the surrounding buildings to make
it compatible with the city’s urban fabric. Special attention was given to make sure
that MAXXI is illuminated by natural light from the glass openings between the
concrete ceiling beams. The ceiling beams are also used to hang artworks. The
beams, staircases and floor lighting provide a route for visitors (22).
A large atrium with full height leads to the reception areas, cafeteria, bookstore,
and auditoriums and galleries hosting permanent collections and exhibitions (Fig. 8).
284 Funda K. Açici
While glass, steel and concrete give the exhibition spaces a neutral appearance, the
movable panels ensure flexibility (Fig. 9).
MAXXI contains flexible spaces for sculptures and installations, which are
probably the most common form of expression in contemporary art. MAXXI was
defined as a collection-free project when opened in 2010. Exhibitions and collections
of contemporary art and architecture were presented after it was opened. In this
sense, it is clear that MAXXI is a work of art that already exhibits itself.
4 Epilogue
As Schubert states, the lesson to be learned from the past of museum is that it is
not at all true that the relationship between the present and the future is a constant
rule. What this only means is the replacement of the present with the precise rules
of the past. No matter what the future holds, museums will be capable of extraor-
dinary adaptation and continue to be both healthy cultural structures and open
to external influences. With their openness, flexibility, versatility, transparency,
imperviousness to corruption and appeal to a wide audience, museums are funda-
mental institutions of democratic societies (24).
Countless examples of museums from the past and present show that the main
function of museums has begun to change with modern approaches. Since the gen-
eral objective of museums is to fund artworks, their designs are generally plain and
simple with empty spaces. The main criterion for the design of museums is that
they do not overshadow the artworks themselves.
Gradual transformations in museum designs have brought about different
approaches that seek the “new” and capture the “contemporary” in the 21st cen-
tury. This approach, in a sense, has given birth to art itself as a defiance. Museums
designed based on contemporary approaches have created an aesthetic perception
as a work of art and come into prominence in this era. These approaches are steps
taken in the right direction for making sure that architectural structures that will
be passed down to the next generation reflect the characteristics of the period they
pertain to.
Contemporary Approaches in Museum Space Design 285
References
1 Karabıyık, A., Çağdaş Sanat Müzeciliği Kapsamında Türkite’deki Müzecilik
Hareketlerine Bir Bakış, Atatürk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Yüksek
Lisans Tezi, 2007, Erzurum
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