The Brazilian Maritime Museum is envisioned as a living cultural landmark for Rio de Janeiro: a museum where education, public space, maritime memory, and architectural innovation are inseparable from the experience of the city and the sea.
Inspired by the principles of navigation and by the imagery of maritime history, the design brings together several symbolic references. Archimedes’ theory of buoyancy informs the idea of a partially submerged architecture, while the sails of historic clipper ships inspire the lightness and movement of the building’s form. Wave-like canopies extend the museum into the open air, sheltering outdoor exhibition areas and creating shaded spaces for visitors, events, and public life. Above them, a lightweight ETFE roof gives the building durability, efficiency, and a luminous interior atmosphere.
Located in a privileged position in Rio de Janeiro’s city center, the museum establishes a direct relationship with both the waterfront and the urban fabric. Visible from key points of arrival and orientation, including the area of the Candelária Church and the approach by air, it becomes part of the city’s image even before one enters it. Its proximity to the cycle path, VLT lines, bus routes, and nearby public transport also makes it easily accessible to residents and visitors.
The project opens itself generously to the city. Public decks, exterior spaces, a café with independent access, and areas that can be experienced without a museum ticket allow the building to function as an inclusive civic place. The proposal also introduces two additional piers, strengthening the maritime connection with Paquetá Island and Niterói and transforming the museum into a point of cultural encounter and urban mobility.
Sustainability is embedded in the architectural strategy. The building’s form and orientation reduce energy consumption through shading, while the translucent roof optimizes the use of natural light. Solar-powered exterior lighting, LED systems, reused or responsibly sourced timber structures, and reduced excavation all contribute to a more efficient and environmentally conscious project. By placing a significant part of the museum underground, the design improves thermal performance, reduces the need for air conditioning, and allows better control of light for the exhibition spaces.
The relationship between the existing pier, the new structure, and the surrounding marine environment creates an experience that is both architectural and ecological. The restored underground arches preserve the memory of the original deck while offering new conditions for marine life, reinforcing the project’s connection with the biodiversity of Guanabara Bay.
The main entrance is conceived as an unexpected descent toward the lower levels. At the end of the ramp, visitors encounter the restored arches of the pier, transformed with glass elements that evoke the sensation of looking into an aquarium. This moment becomes a meeting point between past and future: a tribute to maritime history and an invitation to imagine new horizons.
At the end of the pier, a sculpture dedicated to peace becomes a symbolic and visual landmark. Delicate, strong, and balanced, it reflects the broader role of maritime forces and the fragile equilibrium between protection, diplomacy, and peace.
The Brazilian Maritime Museum is imagined as a memorable and accessible place: a museum, a civic space, an educational center, and a new cultural icon for Rio de Janeiro.
Place: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Year: 2021
Status: Competition
Area: 5,000 sqm GBA; 280 m of port
Partners: Jayme Lago Mestieri
Team: Nir Sivan (design lead), Priscila Dourado, Marina Brant, Anna Rubleva, Mohamed Ibrahim
https://www.nirsivan.com/nir-sivan-architects/project-gallery/brazilian-maritime-museum-brazil/
