Luigi Rovati Foundation

The historic Bocconi-Rizzoli-Carraro building is to be reopened to the public to house a collection of Etruscan artifacts, an extraordinary assortment of 700 vases dating back to the period between the 9th and 6th centuries BC. Part of the architectural project concerns the extension of the building’s basement and the construction and set-up of the underground museum. Architect Cucinella designed stone domes to evoke Etruscan tombs. The contemporary and highly technological space allows visitors to enter the narrative of the exhibition. The museum, which will occupy about 1,500 square meters, will thus extend over three floors. The entrance will become a reception area, consisting of a ticket office, café, and bookshop. Part of the collection - specifically dedicated to funeral objects - will be displayed in highly technological underground spaces, while the rest of the collection will be located on the first floor, in halls conserving the charm of yesteryear. The second floor will house a library, conference hall, and a workshop area for kids. The lighting system has been designed to improve the quality of the perception of the light within the space and its use. It aims to emphasize the underground dimension of the museum, creating a kind of half-light, like that of underground anthropological constructions, but at the same time, it attempts to highlight the value of the displayed objects through light, literally bringing them to light, while respecting the quality of the wood, materials, colors, and shapes. The light will thus be perfectly integrated with the museum’s technology.