The redesign of the PINA Luz entrance seeks to reverse its current character of passageway and transition into a place of stay, granting a new scale and ambience to the museum’s reception. This change intends to give it the same identity seen throughout the museum, serving as a welcoming space to the public.
To achieve that, the project relocates the access control further back into the room, alongside the door that leads to the first patio’s metallic walkway. Thus, the welcoming space, previously restricted to the front porch, now is multiplied by four to receive a larger public during weekends and holidays. This way, the hall presents itself as an extension of the public space, without ostentatious control of the public. Opening all the doors towards the outside porch reinforces the welcoming quality of the reception, as well as the public and approachable character of the institution. To serve this same purpose, the exit is reallocated to the level below, a decision that also guides the visitors through the cafe and the museum’s new shop.
The integral requalification of the hall’s ambience is made possible through the creation of an illuminated ceiling that redefines its scale, emphasizing its longitudinality through parallel strips of white fabric that function as diffusers for the new lighting. This element presents itself as both delicate and of strong statement, bringing light and life into the space. Height variations throughout the ceiling reflect the main elements on the floor: the counter and the benches are under stretches of higher ceiling height, whilst upholstered sets reflect lower ceilings heights. These variations subtly delimit the main axis in which the museum organizes itself, coinciding with the central entrance door and the metallic walkway. The light has a warmer temperature (yellow tone) in order to conceive an intimate environment, and is heterogenic, with density variations throughout different areas.
Amplifying the space for free circulation and providing a place to stop, sit and plan the visit, wait, rest or get to know the program before entering is the main strategy of the internal arrangement, which aims to attend a broad public with diverse interests. To serve this purpose, the counter is moved to one side, and on the other an “island-bench” with outlets allows people to charge their electronic equipment. Two other areas, defined by the upholstered modular sets and the lower ceiling, are connected to the informative panel of the museum’s program on one side, and to information about the supporters and sponsors, on the other. The seating arrangement comfortably accommodates up to 34 people seated in the reception.
Two ticket tokens are located next to the central door, while two others are planned on each side of the external porch close to the lockers.
Counter and bench are designed by reusing the wood from previous counters, added to metal sheet structures painted in the same pattern seen on the structural elements of the walkways and guardrails. This solution enhances the contrast between the dark floor and the illuminated ceiling which now characterizes the room.
