Lapidarium Museum / Randić & Turato

Architects: Randić & Turato / Saša Randić and Idis Turato
Location: Novigrad, Croatia
Client: Town Novigrad
Collaborator: Leora Drazul (Technical Architect)
Construction: Dragan Ribaric
Commission type: Invited Competition
Project Area: 780 sqm
Project year: 2003
Construction year: 2006
Photographs: Randić & Turato

Novigrad Lapidarium Museum houses the collection of early medieval monuments, architectural sculpture and church furnishings, which all come from the neighboring cathedral.

Building is situated inside the park bordered by the cathedral and residential buildings on the other sides. One of the specifics of Novigrad, in comparison with other historical towns on the western coast of Istria, is that it has a large proportion of parks inside the historical city structure. This condition has been recognized as significant for the project.

floor plan

Lapidarium is essentially two black boxes and the park. The boxes reconstruct the original rooms of the remains. The hexagonal concrete box represents the baptistery inside which the stone remains of the ciborium are displayed in their original position. The rectangular box is proportioned in relation with the altar partition exhibited inside it.

All the remaining space is opening to the park covered by a roof supported by the two boxes, glazed with the rotational glass panels that open on the park. During the events housed by the Museum, the building performs as a central stage, using the whole park extending to the public square on the other side of the cathedral.

Source: archdaily.com