THE BUILDING
The architectural project by the famous architect Renzo Piano is characterized by a refined, futuristic profile, a homage to the peaks of the mountains that surround Trento. Within the building, a vast covered square welcomes the visitor and divides the public section of the building from the part dedicated to the staff. The working spaces include offices, research laboratories, workshops, storage areas for scientific collections and for exhibitions, the library archives and technical spaces. The public area is made up of exhibition spaces, small children's area, conference hall, laboratories, educational labs, a tropical greenhouse, the library and a café. This all adds up to roughly 12,000 sqm.
MUSE IN NUMBERS
| Permanent exhibitions | 2.700 sqm |
| Temporary exhibitions | 780 sqm |
| Tropical greenhouse | 700 sqm |
| Children's area | 100 sqm |
| Free exhibition | 680 sqm |
| Library | 600 sqm |
| Reception and café | 700 sqm |
| Educational areas and labs | 450 sqm |
| Offices |
650 sqm |
| Research labs |
650 sqm |
| Workshops | 400 sqm |
| Storage and collections | 1.800 sqm |
| Conference hall (seats 100) | 200 sqm |
| Technical spaces |
1.590 sqm |
| Total net surface | 12.000 sqm |
ECO – MUSE
The architectural project has been conceived paying special attention to environmental impact and energy saving aspects. For this reason the building's functions will be regulated by centralized, mechanical systems that will exploit various renewable energy sources (solar, using photovoltaic cells and solar panels, and geothermal, using thermal exchange elements). Careful research was made to define the layering, the thickness and materials for thermal isolation of the building, for the window panes and for shading solutions, to optimize the energy efficiency of the building. Natural illumination and ventilation, in some areas, help to reduce energy consumption and to increase comfort. Other energy saving solutions have also been adopted, such as a cistern to collect rainwater thus cutting the use of fresh water by 50%. The water collected will be used to irrigate the greenhouse and for the aquaria and water moat that will surround the building. Some building materials (concrete, Verdello stone) will come from local sources to limit transport pollution, others will be easily disposable, such as the bamboo that will be used for exhibition floors. Structural elements will be of wood.
The parking lot will have an area for bicycles, with changing rooms and showers, and only a limited number of spaces will be available for cars to encourage visitors to use public transport.
Thanks to a cooperation with the Trentino Technological District, the project has been submitted for Silver LEED® certification. The LEED system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed in the United States in 1998, provides guidelines for sustainable design and construction techniques, reducing energy consumption and thus also building management costs and toxic emissions.
