Capo D’Orso Military Museum Proposal
Team: Patrick Cordelle, Joe Cordelle
Our design concept for the Fortress Museum provides an opportunity to unify and blend the unique historical, cultural and environmental characteristics of Capo D’Orso into a world destination. The project consists of three main elements: The Fortress Museum; The Ring, a pedestrian pathway and bridge system encompassing the site, and The Fortress Hotel and Resort. Additional parts of the program will be integrated into the existing ruins that will be modernized and retrofitted in a manner that maintains and preserves the history and integrity of this important site.
The Fortress Museum is located in the ruins on the top of the hill. We propose to construct a fully rigged sailing system on the roof of the existing building with three, square rigged masts. There is no attempt to replicate the deck of a ship on the roof deck. Instead, the roof deck would be modernized to accommodate a new Sardinian restaurant beneath the proposed structure. This provides a unique dining experience with unlimited views of the Mediterranean Sea and the sounds of the rigging and the sails in the wind. The museum would be in the rooms of the ruins below the roof deck that will be modernized and conditioned to protect and present the museum exhibits. The proposed masts and rigging will be an icon for Capo D’Orso. From a distance, the sails would serve as a surreal, abstract form of a tall ship in the sky that changes based on the wind and the state of the sails.
The Ring is a circular pedestrian path through and around the site that not only provides access to the site, but also serves as a continuous memorial to those who have lost their lives and loved ones in war and at sea. There is no formal beginning or end to the path. There are numerous points to stop and reflect with various historical markers along the way. In addition to the on grade path, there are two pedestrian bridges that provide new and unique views of the site. These minimalist bridges are designed to mitigate environmental impact during construction by using modular components and construction methods, built offsite and lifted into place.
The Hotel and Resort will provide guests the unique opportunity to experience Capo D’Orso from high end luxury to open air structures for hikers and campers. The rooms are located on the north side of the site, along the Ring, out of view to the museum visitors.
The twelve eco cabins face Bear Rock to the west and the Mediterranean to the north. These elevated, prefabricated units are bolted to pre placed piers to minimize site disturbance during construction. There is an indoor/outdoor stone fireplace that anchors the lightweight structure to the ground. Other than the bedroom, these units are completely open air with a large deck that wraps around the unit that can be used for outdoor sleeping and eating. The seven high end units are located on the northern portion of the Ring. These are two bedrooms units with a pool and indoor/outdoor living spaces that includes a kitchen and dining area with all rooms having unobstructed views to the sea. These units feature sliding glass window walls that open the rooms up for an indoor/outdoor living experience. As an added amenity for hotel guests, we propose building a trail down to a new floating pier on the beach below to provide for swimming and sun bathing which is currently only accessible by boat.