MUDECO is the Museum of Costume located on the basement of the Castle of Donnafugata. It permanently displays the Arezzo di Trifiletti collection, acquired by the Municipality of Ragusa in 2014.
The collection is among the most important in Europe and consists of thousands of garments dating from 1200 to 1930. It also includes antique accessories such as snuffboxes, walking sticks, fans, and fine jewelry that belonged to famous people.
The proposed design project offers two distinct levels of interpretation: first, a restoration of the architectural structure based on an extremely conservative approach; second, the insertion of micro-architecture capable of meeting the display needs of the new museum.
The strategy pursued ensured that every added element possesses high visibility, functional versatility, and ease of dismantling. A series of architectural solutions were proposed to engage with the existing space in an innovative and flexible manner.
The entrance serves as a transition space between the castle courtyards and the exhibition area: a long red ramp connects the courtyard to the rooms of MUDECO.
A careful analysis of each room dictated different types of intervention: rooms with flat ceilings undergo a different treatment compared to vaulted spaces, where new structures termed “gabbie” (cages) are installed. The “gabbie” do not conceal the existing architecture, but rather allow visitors to perceive it in an entirely unexpected way.
These are detached from the existing masonry and feature an autonomous steel structure made of iron columns that support both the lighting system and the drapery. Dedicated electrified tracks allow for the integration of directional mini-spots with direct light beams, which can be repositioned according to varying exhibition requirements.
Velvet curtains are suspended from the “gabbie”, solving the issue of darkening natural light while softening the perception of a space originally unsuitable for an exhibition space.
Besides its strong iconic value, evoking historical fashion accessories such as panniers or crinolines, the system of “gabbie” and drapes resolves several site-specific challenges: blocks out existing window openings, acoustically softens the environment, supports the lighting system, directs visitor flow, and highlights the displayed collection.
The fabric used for the drapes is produced by the brand COEX: a 100% natural product made from plant-based fibers such as linen, cotton, and viscose. It is rendered flame-retardant through an innovative technology that does not rely on chemical flame-retardant additives or fireproofing resins.
The drapes were crafted in various colors to enhance, by contrast, the richness of the garments displayed on dedicated platforms.
In the tower, the challenge of overcoming architectural barriers is resolved through the introduction of a new floating floor made of micro-perforated sheet metal, which allows the original flooring underneath to remain visible.
In addition to the information panels, display cases were also custom-designed to house the collection’s numerous accessories.
