The Libyan History
Museum is located in a very rich part
of Tripoli;
street cafes are full, public gardens are lavish, back pedestrian pathways are
bursting with everyday’s life. It is the perfect setting to tell a piece of Libya’s
history. Our
strategy consisted of embracing this rich surrounding; by letting two main
pathways continue through our site we are sure to anchor the building with its
surrounding. Not only these two pathways define the building’s geometry, they
do much more than that, they offer a unique opportunity to engrave the names of
those who fought for Libya
in the streets of their capital forever. This space becomes the first museum
gallery. A semi-pubic program is also envisaged at this level; a café and a
souvenir’s shop receive the exhibition visitors as well as other clientele.
This exhibition Center
is connected to the main Jihad
Building across the
street via an underpass at the basement level. A temporary large gallery
occupies this first basement as well as storage space. Two more basements are
planned offering seventy parking spots.
The
exhibition visit starts at the first floor where two main galleries are located
and extents to the second where three more main halls are located. These two
floors are articulated by means of double volumes, terrace gardens, and a
multi-purpose hall offering a multitude of possibilities to organize different
exhibitions.
The trip culminates at the
third floor where a special gallery is dedicated to the modern Libya.
The space is unique; a transparent box surrounded by a garden and open to the
sky.