Santa Maria della Scala: the transformation of the old hospital into an exhibition
Drawings, photographs, videos and plans illustrate the transformation of the architectural complex into an international museum complex
Overlooking the Duomo and inextricably linked to the memories of the people of Siena—who, for generations, were born and found care and comfort within the long walls of this ancient hospital—Santa Maria della Scala has finally become a museum complex, marking a key milestone in its journey of transformation. Three internationally renowned architectural firms have overseen its development for the coming decades, transforming it into a multifunctional microcosm, presented through the exhibition Santa Maria della Scala. Architecture, Projects and Visions, curated by Luca Molinari Studio.
Through drawings, photographs, videos and project materials, the exhibition presents to the public the new strategic masterplan promoted by the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala, based on a detailed analysis of the architectural complex following the closure of the hospital and its relationship with the city of Siena.
“This is a process of rethinking the museum system that begins on the ground floor of Santa Maria della Scala and then ties in with the wider project involving the appointment of designers to work on other parts of the museum,” explains curator Luca Molinari. Furthermore, “the Masterplan project in some way affects almost half of the currently unused areas of Santa Maria della Scala; we have focused on the part awaiting intervention, but above all on the fact that, at the same time, this institution has grown over time, its needs have changed, and it is in dialogue with the city. So an auditorium, a major restaurant, the connection with the city, spaces for education, spaces for culture and a whole range of elements that make this place a veritable cultural acropolis.”
The exhibition traces the key stages in the transformation of this magnificent architectural masterpiece, as it has evolved from a historic hospital into the city’s new and indispensable museum complex.
The exhibition thus serves as a means of helping the public to understand a complex architectural and cultural project that is not yet complete and which awaits a new vision for Siena’s future.
