The City of Lost Gold: Tales from the Depths | Masters Design Project

Site Context

Ouro Preto, translated as “Black Gold,” got its name from gold that was found hidden beneath layers of iron oxide. The town was a hotspot for gold mining in the 18th century. A vast underground network of mines was built by thousands of fortune-seekers who descended upon the Ouro Preto mountains. This small but thriving town was home to brilliant Baroque churches constructed by artists and architects. The primary building material used in these churches is wood, in stark contrast to their Roman predecessors.

Design Process

The main factor influencing the circulation and programme organisation is the different relationships with the ground: the first exhibition room is partially buried, the second room is set into the mountain, and the final exhibition hall is entirely underground. The reception is located on the ground. A tower of observation protrudes from the earth. The project uses rendering as a design tool rather than a representation method, drawing inspiration from the idea of object-oriented ontology in terms of spatial quality. Every element in the render received the same level of care and design.

Final Outcome

The gold museum is a series of interconnected spaces. The visitor enters the Dark Room, the first exhibition space, after passing through an underground passage. The gold objects are displayed on the water, and a granite walkway leads one through the space. The dark room gives the exhibits the appearance of glittering in a small, dimly lit space. The project uses charred wood for facades, emulating the local architecture’s heavy reliance on timber. The entry points and circulation routes are denoted with golden metal, which also highlights the space’s intended use—a gold museum.

The Golden Room, a medium-sized exhibition area partially set into the mountain, comes after the Dark Room. A cosier atmosphere is achieved by using concrete, wood tiles, and stones with softer tones. Diffuse light is reflected onto the gold exhibits through large apertures made of channel glass. The visitors exit the exhibit hall and reenter the original mine tunnel before reaching the final one.

The final exhibition space, Hall of Angels, showcases the religious artifacts. The space is completely subterranean. The last hall is an open area that invites guests to stroll around and observe the artefacts from all angles, in contrast to the first two rooms’ linear circulation. A golden path leads guests from the bottom of the valley out of the museum. They can have a full view of the rooms they visited after leaving the museum.

Conclusion: The gold museum in Ouro Preto, Brazil, explores the connection between mining, gold, and the history of slavery and colonization. Inspired by Baroque pearl necklaces, the design features a winding circulation path, blending natural and processed materials, and a unique spatial character that surprises visitors.

[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]