Reflections in Nature
The maritime museum in the port of Le Havre is a design approach to maximize the effectiveness in the adaptive reuse. The concept is to blend the old and the new into one unified structure. The design revolves around the juxtaposition of a sleek, light glass prism with the existing curvilinear, heavy concrete structure.
The glass prism provides a pure reflection of the surrounding landscape and port, symbolically embedding the entire maritime history of Le Havre into the building. This reflection, along with the museum's program, is creating a dynamic dialogue between the structure and its environment.
A continuous skylight stripe acts as a transitional element between the existing concrete structure and the new reflective glass mass, slicing through the two structures. The skylight flooding the interior with natural light, marking a point where the old and new become one.
A series of glass boxes fills the gaps between the existing concrete volumes. These transparent additions create a variety of public functions, including café, gallery, library, and panoramic viewpoints. The new cantilever design will maximize sunlight and offer expansive views of the city, sea, and port.
The museum's interior layout is symmetrical and functional. A grand central atrium at its heart serves as a focal point. The atrium facilitates grand lobby, meeting point, exhibition, and floating panoramic ramp, sandwiched by twin multifunctional staircases acting as social hub with areas for coffee, reading, working, and interaction among visitors.
The overall design blends clarity, openness, and functionality with a deep sense of history, achieving a seamless unity between the old and new. The design also encapsulates Le Havre's maritime legacy through the concept “Reflections With Nature” and creates harmonization with its environment.
