|
Museum for Salvador
Dali
Tossa, Spain
 
The purpose of this museum is to house a private collection of Salvador
Dali lithographs and sculptures. It is also intended to be a fantastic
tourist attraction visited by millions of people each year. Situated
in a 1000 year old Spanish castle the building is like an exotic jewel
rising out of the ancient ruins. It is meant to be touched, seen and
experienced. Outside one views what seems to be a giant human figure
trying to escape the walls of the building. Transparent glass "spikes"
filled with water creates radiant solar heating to the interior walls
and waterfalls cascade gently down the three sides of the museum. Brilliant
anodized aluminum, red wrought iron, native beach stones, large seashells;
bright colored ceramic tiles and patina copper create an exotic and
unforgettable effect that belies the more calm and ecologic interior.
The roof is made of stainless steel and sheathed in gold reflective
mirrored tile. It glistens in the sunlight like a golden bejeweled crown.
The roof structure opens and closes and angles according to the position
of the sun and contains a bank of photovoltaic panels that provide all
electricity to the building. The roof area is openly accessible and
is a Dali sculpture garden with built-in seating, flowers and beautiful
vegetation surrounding it on all sides--a Garden of Eden by the sea.
The interior features cantilevered, curved, sea shell studded painting
display walls with directional "Snakelites" that grow and bend out of
the wall tops. Visitors walk up a helical ramp/stair, which coils around
a waterfall and a single tree surrounded, by flowering plants--a heavenly
garden at the heart of the building. Each floor is planned very differently
with different alcoves, viewing rooms, Film Theater and freestanding
jewelry displays. Sunlight enters each floor by a series of small circular
openings created by the "spike" glass exterior cones and reflected inside
as an array of star-like dots shimmering on the walls. This is a museum
that Dali himself would have approved of.
 |
 |
 |
| exterior facade |
section |
floor plan |
|
