roman archaeological museum by foster + partners breaks ground in southern france

roman archaeological museum by foster + partners breaks ground in southern france
all images courtesy of foster + partners

in 2012, foster + partners was selected as part of an international design competition to construct a museum building to display roman artifacts excavated in the south of france. three years later construction work has begun on the ‘musée de la romanité narbonne’, also known as ‘MuRéNA’. the design, which was developed in collaboration with studio adrien gardère, is based around the museum’s prime exhibit – a collection of more than 1,000 ancient stone relief funerary blocks, recovered from the narbonne’s medieval walls in the 19th century.

the display of artifacts forms a natural barrier at the heart of the rectilinear structure

the display of the collection informs the architecture of the building, forming a natural barrier at the heart of the rectilinear structure and separating the public galleries from accessible restoration spaces. ‘visitors will be able to glimpse the work of the archaeologists and researchers through its mosaic of stone and light, and the flexible display framework allows the reliefs to be easily reconfigured and used as an active tool for learning,’ explain the architects.

sectional drawing showing the archival nature of the plan

the museum’s canopy is elevated above a clerestory and punctuated with light wells, extending out to shade a wide public plaza surrounding the museum. the building incorporates galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions, a multimedia education center and library, as well as restoration and storage facilities. ‘MuRéNA’ seeks to stand as a new landmark at the entrance to narbonne, located on a site adjacent to the canal du midi. the landscaping will reinforce the connection with the water, creating a tranquil, natural setting. the design and its configuration references formal french gardens and the roman courtyard, featuring an amphitheater for open-air displays and events.

the museum’s canopy is elevated above a clerestory and punctuated with light wells

‘the ground breaking ceremony is always a momentous occasion for a project as it signifies the moment work begins on site,’ comments spencer de grey, co-head of design at foster + partners. ‘we are delighted to be working with la region languedoc roussillon on this project, which is a showcase for the illustrious history of narbonne. inspired by the natural setting and the fascinating collection of roman artifacts, the building hopes to strengthen the connections with the landscape and the region’s incredible past, as well as being a major center for research, restoration and interpretation of the story of antiquity of the wider region. we look towards the completion of the museum with great anticipation.’