Arquitectum.com launched a design contest in 2006 for Museum/Bridge in Venice... wow... what a concept indeed... a bridge that is also a museum over the grand canal.
The challenge was to allow pedestrians to go through the bridge without having the access the museum.
The concept was simple... creating a glass bubble to wrap the bridge and enclose the different exhibits which focused on celebrating Venice Urban layout with models and views of the city itself; I also decided to provide a spiral ramp to allow access to people in wheelchairs and other disabilities.
Once inside the bubble (museum) the visitors would be able to appreciate the beauty of the city and the pieces being showcased... Opaque adjustable panels will allow to control how much lights goes inside.
The whole exhibit area consisted in a double height creating an open space serene space where light and shadow play and interact with the tinted glass partitions dividing the different areas.