On the 24th of July, the Museu de Arte do Rio inaugurated the Pilotis Occupation Project, an architectural and chromatic proposal aimed at redefining the meaning of the museum’s ground floor, which was created six years ago. With financial support from BNDES, POP MAR emerges from the understanding of this space as a potential area of ​​awareness, mobilisation and the attraction of new audiences, hosting complementary actions that are not contemplated by the exhibitions.

“Much more than just a showcase of art and collections, museums have a huge function for social and cultural activation. MAR, as a contemporary museum, could not help but look towards this space as a potential platform for its own actions. The idea is to create a space of convergence and coexistence, where people can meet, enjoy and remain,” says Eleonora Santa Rosa, the museum’s executive director and the creator of the project.

The architectural project developed by Israel Nunes took shape based on what we heard in discussions that the museum promoted with young people between 14 to 20 years old, from various regions of Rio de Janeiro. “From these conversations emerged the idea of ​​colouring the museum’s pilotis and making it a more welcoming place. This new colour palette will also help show the museum’s internal flow, such as the location of restrooms, exhibition halls, elevators and ticket offices, dividing the pilotis into four squares,” explains the architect.

The Praça do Encontro, located next to the lockers, and the meeting point between the public of the guided visits and educators, will take on new colours. Praça Viva o MAR, located next to the box office, will receive new furniture. Next to the Café and the shop will be Praça de Convivência, where the public will have access to tables with power points and USB ports for charging electronic devices. Along the wall that separates MAR from Praça Mauá will be the Deck Marítimo, a 29-metre long piece of wood that will act as a collective bench. The entire space will feature a free Wi-Fi service.

New signage will also identify works already present on the pilotis, such as the sculpture “Maria Callas”, by Amilcar de Castro, the work “The history of the black person is a warrior-like happiness”, by Jaime Lauriano, the model developed by Projeto Morrinho and the flag by the artist Marcos Chaves on the mast of the building. The idea is that, in addition to these works, every month a different piece of the MAR collection will be found here, performing the task of provocation with the public.

Another objective of the project is to expand to its surroundings and to delimit the museum space in Praça Mauá, making its access points clear, with interventions at the entrance of Avenida Venezuela, which previously had no signage at all, and at the entrance of Avenida Rodrigues Alves, near the VLT stop.