Museum of Human Evolution

The body of the Museum of Human Evolution hovers above an “Urban Mirror,” a platform of water recycled from the Arlazon River. The river branches to the north, bringing water from the Atapuerca caves, thereby connecting the site to the caves, just as origin myths from the world’s cultures are connected to water.

A “Chromatic Space” is created between the urban mirror and the undersides of the museum and auditoriums. This dramatic urban space, with open walkways over water, serves as an enormous entry space from which one can see the entrances to all the lobbies. The Chromatic Space corresponds to the long span of time before humans first became conscious of their own evolution—this “layer of unconsciousness” is a place for reflection.

For a visitor experiencing the museum, the content of exhibits is gradually revealed using different formulations of space, first, by recreating the actual environment of the Atapuerca caves and second, a “Score of Darkness” is created alongside the cave reconstruction by light piercing the dark background spaces. Finally, advanced digital exhibition techniques explore new information and future projections.

5 points of fusion occur where the organic form, inspired by the Atapuerca caves, merges and overlaps with the orthogonal forms derived from urban Burgos. These merging points allow 5 places of programmatic flexibility and overlap. Circulation and exhibits can be rerouted according to the needs of specific events.

The unity of man and nature is expressed in the void-solid reversal of the central museum geometry which extends out from the cave reconstruction. This argument against a non-dualistic consciousness is also expressed in the Arlazon River water connection at the urban mirror platform.