5x5 Magic Square for Maribor

EPK Drava 2012 Competition, A museum in five acts

In a 5x5 magic square, all the horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines add up to 65. Each number from 1-25 occurs once, and in our proposed building, stands for meters in height. To accommodate the intersecting five-part program of the new Maribor Art Galley and respecting our site, a 75-meter square is suggested, making each field 15x15 meters. Every volume houses a distinct function and they are connected to each other on different levels.

The highest volume, [25] is the central lobby, which unites all the aspects of the building. A wide stair meanders from the parking garage to the ground floor public piazza, up through a split reception area for the Art Museum, a landing for the Children’s Museum to arrive at the main information desk with astonishing views over the city, the mountains and the Drava River. The roof is an observation deck.
[4] bridges off on the highest level of the lobby and houses the exhibition space of the Architectural Centre.
[1] is a stage glowing at night and bringing light to the parking below.
[20] and [12] are next to each other on the river; besides their height, these numbers also represent the year this building opens.

To allow maximum passage and vistas, invite people for gatherings and happenings, and to enhance the urban fabric most of the volumes are hovering above a grand piazza flooded by sunlight passing though open fields. Almost all roof levels are accessible to museum visitors, playing children and restaurant guests. The roof is planted forming a three-dimensional sculpture park. The structure leaves room for play and offers surprising perspectives of the environment.

This building should be made out of cast in place concrete using gravel from different regions of the Drava River, sharp stones form the Dolomites and round pebbles from the partnering Danube, and even from the Black Sea. Self-cleansing white Istrian stone is used for the pavement and maybe the facade outside. Below the building geothermal wells capture sustainable energy not only for the museum itself, but for the neighborhood as well.

The Magic Square project had a playful beginning with initial inspiration from Albrecht Dürer’s edging Melancholia I from 1514; it would be great to continue the game and develop a magical building for Maribor in the future.

Project Team: Will Orlando, Pino Pavese, Miriam Waltz, Eva Sommeregger, Rodolfo Diaz