Revolution of Dignity Museum, Kiev

In its new building, the Revolution of Dignity Museum will become a vibrant cultural hub for Kiev. It asserts its place in the public space as a walk-through structure with easy and welcoming access from all sides. The fully glazed façade dissolves the visual boundaries between inside and outside, conforming to the different interior spaces and creating a range of entry and exit zones. A new place to interact and build community is born.

Our design arranges cuboids of different dimensions along a spiral around the light-filled atrium, where the Yolka, the centerpiece of the exhibit, is displayed. The interior space is defined by the topographical context, with rooms at different heights and a central ramp facing Maidan Square. Each of the elevated, staggered boxes give visitors a variety of views out towards the surroundings as well as into the museum from neighboring walkways and streets. The individual structures are arranged according to their purpose, giving the overall complex its unique visual identity. We envisioned the ground floor as a public space with a café and a museum shop as well as the opportunity to host events. In order to give the curators every freedom in terms of staging the displays, we designed the exhibit space with a flexible layout but also a coherent flow. The individual spaces have virtually no thresholds or demarcations in an effort to make them inclusive for all visitors. There are fluid transitions from one space to the next; without a defined path through the exhibit, visitors are encouraged to discover the exhibit at their own pace and on their own terms.

A transparent, translucent layer of glass rods envelops each structure, positioned at different intervals and with varying density on the different façades. This creates a unique silhouette of light and shadow that glows at night and, by day, shimmers differently depending on the season – enhancing the Kiev cityscape with architecture that radiates transparency and openness.