Museum of
Emotions

This is a very simple yet brilliant project in the way it handles the exterior envelope. The outside is seamlessly integrated into the natural setting, blurring the boundary between the structure and the land. The interior provides a quiet place for contemplation and darkness, creating a sensation opposite to the exterior. With humble means, the project evokes a range of emotions and offers a space with a minimal footprint.

Seasonal change might further enrich the experience of this structure. The exterior will transform with the cycle of the year, while the interior remains a static, dark space. Time plays a major role in contributing to the experience of this project.

It is a poetic project that juxtaposes two contrasting worlds and emotions: positivity on the outside and negativity on the inside. An alternative or reversed presentation of this pattern would also be intriguing. The project can be seen as a thoughtful commentary on contemporary culture, particularly the obsession with superficial, retouched, and idealized images.

The project presents a compelling contrast between two atmospheres and, consequently, two different spatial emotions: a dark, enclosed interior and a bright, floral exterior. The effective use of conventional materials and natural light helps distinguish these environments. The dark interior evokes introspection and discomfort, while the bright, floral exterior offers openness and a sense of connection to nature.

This is a strong proposal. The project engages with organic matter in a conscientious way that is increasingly essential in the future of architecture and design. Importantly, the proposal avoids being simplistically naive or utopian, instead navigating the tension of "uprooting" inherent in architecture. By elevating plant life into a living structure—quite literally pulling it away from the ground—it also reveals the hidden systems that sustain life below ground, anchoring plants to the earth. The renders are successful; however, instead of the close-up images of the eyes and hand, I would have preferred section views or more detailed material information.

The design scale is very strong. The idea of changing views places the visitor in different moods as they move along the landscape, sometimes directing their gaze towards the land and at other times towards the sea. The museum is seamlessly connected to its context. Additionally, the wavy shape brings a sense of softness and evokes the feeling of being protected.

I appreciate how this design spectacularizes the boundary of the cliff without significantly altering the landscape. It provides a safe space for drifting and coming close to the sea and the sun.

The project consists of a simple yet effective gesture—a curvy line along a path—that creates a sequence of emotional experiences for visitors. The thoughtful site appropriation enhances the relationship between the intervention and its natural surroundings, making the path feel both integrated and intentional. The progression of emotions, whether evoked through spatial compression or openness, demonstrates a clear understanding of how design can influence perception and movement.

On one side, there is the playful happiness of children rolling and playing in a green landscape; on the other, the abyss of a steep shoreline and the infinity of the horizon. The divide between nature’s contrasting topographies is explored through a precise architectural gesture, one that closely follows the edge between life and death.

The design is simple yet highly atmospheric, offering visitors a tranquil experience within the space. It blends seamlessly with the natural setting, enhancing its harmony with the surroundings. The overall impression is one of simplicity and elegance.

A space that combines the features of interior and exterior—straddling the boundary between architecture and nature—is a theme that has appeared in various projects from antiquity to the present. This sophisticated design is built on contrasts, as well as similarities and differences between these elements, creating a new and distinctive quality.

This is an original and creative design. The cave-like space and cantilevered platform function in both opposing and complementary ways, like two sides of the same coin. Overall, it addresses the competition brief in a complex manner, avoiding a simplistic division of emotions. The renders are clear and highlight important details, such as the different ground surfaces, the threshold/transition between inside and outside, and the pathway leading to the museum. While the black-and-white aesthetic may have been chosen to keep the site-specificity open (as specific colors could anchor it to a Mediterranean or Pacific Northwest context, for example), I believe the design could have benefited from color images.