The IVAM and the Ghost Skin That Was Never Built
The Valencian Institute of Modern Art projected a far-reaching architectural metamorphosis. The prestigious architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, from the SANAA studio, were tasked with devising a proposal that aimed to completely alter the museum's perception in its urban surroundings. 🏛️
A Lightweight Envelope for a Solid Volume
The central concept of the design consisted of wrapping the existing IVAM structure, by Emilio Giménez and Julio Sanz, with a second skin. This was not a conventional wall, but an extensive mesh of expanded aluminum, a translucent and lightweight material that would act as a filter for natural light. The intervention sought to blur the physical boundaries of the building and unify its external appearance, creating a dialogue between the new and the pre-existing. Additionally, the plan included creating a rooftop garden to improve the connection with the surrounding streets, especially Guillem de Castro Street.
Key features of the SANAA project:- Wrap the building with a metal mesh that filters and diffuses sunlight.
- Generate a visual contrast between the lightness of the new skin and the solidity of the original concrete.
- Expand spaces for exhibiting works and optimize public accessibility.
The IVAM's ghost skin is documented only in plans and models, an architectural project that never materialized.
From Expectation to Cancellation
The proposal generated great expectation in the cultural and architectural spheres. However, after a prolonged evaluation process, the Generalitat Valenciana decided not to proceed with the work. The arguments for halting the project focused on the high economic cost it entailed and the technical complexities inherent in constructing and maintaining a mesh structure of such dimensions. This decision left the museum in its original state, without the visual and spatial transformation that had been proposed.
Consequences of not executing the expansion:- The IVAM maintains its initial architecture without the planned changes.
- The intervention remains a reference for unbuilt projects in the city.
- All studies, plans, and physical models of the proposal are archived.
An Immaterial Legacy in Urban Memory
Today, the IVAM's profile remains unchanged. Nevertheless, the idea of that ghost second skin persists as a layer of architectural possibilities that never materialized. Every time light strikes its facades directly, it is inevitable for some to evoke how that same light would have been, but softened and transformed as it passed through the aluminum mesh that exists only in the archives. This episode underscores how certain architectural visions, despite not being built, leave a conceptual mark on the history of a place. 🤔