Mons Memorial Museum

Programme: Transformation, renovation, expansion, and museography for a military history interpretive centre focussing primarily on the two world wars. Permanent and temporary exhibits, forum, restaurant, etc. The jury of the 2017 edition of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award has selected this project amongst the 365 in competition.

About: The urban planning solution is based on the observation of Mons, a fortified garnison city, which will experience a major turning point in its development with the disappearance of its last walls. These lost fortifications still make an impact on the mode of organisation in the city. The Water Column Machine is a major indicator, a symbol of an industrial society concerned with improving quality of life. The heritage value of the building exceeds its aesthetic and technical quality. The opacity of the extensions, designed to promote introspection on the content, contrasts with the light space of the main part of the building. The ascending path is clear and fits within a spatial and sensory perspective that allows visitors to devote themselves solely to what they are facing.