Charlotte Matz

A center of interpreters in Pompei

Today, the visitor looks at the site as if it was died and this attitude does not help it to be conscious of the risks which run the site. The project is located at the center of the ruins so as to be in the middle of the subject. Thus the building hatches of the ruins as if the life reappeared of volcanic ashes. Skin Corten sometimes full, sometimes micro perforated and sometimes absent gives him the capacity to blend with the site in and its colors.

The building installation was selected according to the elements covered by volcanic ashes on which we could go by. The principal element is the ancient road stopping in extreme cases of the excavations. We are practically sure that it is prolonged under volcanic ashes. The road with itself will thus be used as entry principal of the site by staircases which will borrow its form and its direction.

The center of interpretation is built on a basis of 16m on 16 and positions next to the ancient road alignment. Two elevators propel the visitors at level 12 perched to more 40m of altitude to the top as of ruins. The building takes the form of a watchtower of which one can observe the ruins with calm and respect.

The visit is done while going down again in the building. The visitor turns back the clock: tourism nowadays, the catastrophe of Vesuvius, Pompei the ancient City. Environment and the sights vary according to the subject of the room. Spaces are articulated between the inside and the outside so that the visitor is with nearest as of ruins and of his interpretation. The visitor leaves then in volcanic ashes, by the ancient road, while being plunged at the time where Pompei was still alive.

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