The edifice; two epochs, two architectures

The edifice of the museum is itself an exposed work in its immediate site and environment. Its originality resides in the coexistence of two different architectural styles. Each style gives evidence of its own epoch and shows that being up to its epoch does not mean disown its origins and that being authentic does not necessarily mean copy the past.
The new premises which joined ancient ones enclose spaces of the mausoleum. They are considered as part of the topographic extension of the ancient monument while being different and thus contributing to its own highlight.
In fact, it is about the extension and reorganization of the old museum of arts and popular traditions which was established near the Sidi Zitouni mausoleum in Houmet Essoug, a monument dating back to XVIIIth Century in honour of a pious man.
The old museum comprised, in its first collections, manuscripts in the Zaouia library, customs in the room called El Fnar, jewels in the funerary room, non enamelled pottery in the two courtyards of the zaouia, enamelled pottery in a recently built space opening on the courtyard to the north of the funerary room, traditional culinary art utensils in the kitchen of the zaouia, and woodworks in the room called cupola of the phantom.
The architecture of the museum manifests an official appearance that distinguishes the monuments of the Hussinid epoch like the use green ceramic tiles on top of the cupola or plaster sculptures and earthenware tiles which ornament some internal walls as well as the use of painted wood to embellish the ceilings.
The new building, with its thick walls and inclined plans, refers to the traditional Djerbian architecture while affirming its resolutely contemporary character. This choice valorised both the new and the old edifices through showing a franc dialogue of eras in harmony. We can essentially note the absence of any folklorisation of usual architectural details which are often used in the name of integration.
The new entity is erected on a terrain covering 4500 m2 and comprises three wings: a space allocated for the administration and diverse services; a space for orientation, which is the starting point of visits with its reception and information hall, and spaces for temporary and permanent exposition.
The architectural conception was entrusted to the Tunisian engineering consulting firm Tasmim, which is directed by T. Ben Hadid, while the museographic conception of this unit was entrusted to an international agency which realized great projects of the same kind in many European countries. The resulting product is harmonious, coherent, integrated, and reflects its epoch and its country.


 
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