Tempus Interweave (Reuse the thermae Curinga Contest)
Location: Curinga, Italy
Size: 1090 m2
Year: 2024
To intertwine time, an eternal dialogue between the past and the present.
The 'Tempus Interweave' project stands out as a bold architectural initiative that, by directing its gaze towards the past of the Curinga Baths, seeks not only to protect and preserve its ruins but also to open its doors to the community. This proposal aims to uniquely intertwine the historical richness of the baths with contemporary demands, highlighting and paying homage to the Roman legacy rooted in the heart of Calabria, Italy.
The focus is on the reimagining of the three main areas of the baths: Frigidarium, Tepidarium, and Calidarium. Its objective is to design a visitor experience that not only guides visitors through a unique visual and sensory transition but also establishes an architectural dialogue between the past and the present. The roof, supported by the structural arches of the facade, not only acts as a protective shelter but also becomes a mirror of polished steel that reflects past greatness. This interior design incorporates strategic perforations that allow filtered natural light to enter, emulating the ancestral functions of water in Roman baths. This play of light and shadow not only protects the ruins from climatic elements but also creates a dynamic and reflective atmosphere for visitors.
User freedom is taken into account in the conception of a visitor route that provides access through the main door, strategically located on the northwest face. This door serves as the main entrance to the museum, while a secondary door in the service area provides an alternative entrance, creating a circuit that offers flexibility for visitors to explore the ruin organically and freely. This arrangement allows users to choose their own path, fostering a personalized experience of the rich history and architecture offered by the museum.
The roof, with its perforations replicating the dimensions of the floor pavers, offers a unique visual connection and interior atmospheres that highlight the essence of each space. The facade, composed of Corten steel rods that mimic the texture of the ruins' bricks, along with the structural arches and ETFE plates functioning as large windows, create permeability and visual connection between the interior and exterior of the museum, avoiding visual barriers.
A distinctive feature of the proposal is the engraved reference on the west facade, a homage to the ancient Via Popilia, offering a visual indication of the distances to Rome and Reggio Calabria. This gesture not only honors the cultural and social importance of Via Popilia but also reinforces the narrative connection between the past and the present.
"Tempus Interweave" presents itself as a public refuge open to the community, where the ruin assigns the function of a museum to the roof and, reciprocally, the roof restores the function of baths to the ruin through the play of lights and perforations. This project seeks not only to preserve and celebrate but also to weave a new chapter in the rich history of the Curinga Baths, connecting generations and promoting architecture as a tangible bridge between the past and the present.
