Redesigning The Cantabrian Maritime Museum Restaurant

Architectural Context

Situated on Severiano Ballesteros Street in Santander, Spain, the Cantabrian Maritime Museum Restaurant is an integral part of an architectural complex alongside the Oceanographic Center designed by Vicente Roig Forner and Ángel Hernández Morales in the late 1970s.

Original Structure

The original building comprises two square bodies interconnected by a canopy with a concrete structure. It features a layout spread across three floors surrounding a central courtyard covered by a vault of paraboloid membranes. A renovation and extension in 2003 altered the west facade and terrace roof with a pyramidal aluminum structure, deviating from the initial building concept.

Project Overview

The project aimed to create a new space for the museum’s restaurant and terrace on the second floor, addressing existing roof and facade issues. This involved adding a new volume that integrates with the original building’s paraboloids, redirecting focus towards the interior’s raw concrete elements.

Design Elements

The square morphology of the new volume results from the addition of four triangles that complement and regularize the original paraboloids, emphasizing their rawness within the restaurant’s interior. Wooden false ceilings with triangular designs frame these elements, treating them as artistic features and relics of the building’s past.

Architectural Integration

The exterior design emphasizes transparency through a glass box, offering unobstructed views of the Bay of Santander. Textile curtains add nuance and orientation-based shading, enhancing the maritime experience and connection to the surrounding landscape.

Conclusion

The Cantabrian Maritime Museum Restaurant’s redesign by Zooco Estudio seamlessly integrates modern elements with the original architectural context, creating a unique dining experience that harmonizes with the museum’s historical significance and breathtaking coastal views.