Civic Museum of Saint Sebastian's Palace

(Entrance hall: a filter between indoor and outdoor spaces/a welcoming space)
When we were asked to design the reception desk of the Civic Museum in Mantua, we began researching the history of the building and that of the city too. The goal was to create an element that could assimilate into the space in a way that it seemed it had always been part of the original building. The result was a snail-shaped design covered in eco-cement. The shape and the materials used characterize the surroundings and the history of the land.
Meaning of the snail shape:
- The snail/spiral shape is already present on the walls, on some of the archaeological findings and in the structure of the building
- The snail is an invertebrate animal, a primordial figure associated with the spiral shape, which is a geometric form evoking dynamism, development, and expansion. This concept recalls the European expansion of the Gonzaga family, the dukes of Mantua, as well as the Museum’s knowledge development
- The circular shape symbolizes connection, involvement, development, but also home, hospitality, protection, which are key features for a reception desk.
Meaning of the eco-cement:
- Its material consistency covers the spiral shape in the same way as the soil covers and protects the shell of a snail.