Museum as a Palimpsest - Longlisted Carthage, Tunisia.

Role: Concept, Design development, Drawing

The Byrsa Hill was inhabited by various civilisations across millennia, bearing witness to the region’s rich diversity and pluralism. The site is interpreted as a palimpsest - a layered collection of earlier forms, artefacts, traces and narratives of cultures that evolved here over time. Our design approach proposes an extension as the latest ‘layer’ of the palimpsest. We propose to optimally build on the footprints of the ad-hoc additions in the last two decades that undermine the universal value of the iconic site.

This concept draws attention to the dynamic and evolving nature of museums, highlighting their significant role in reflecting and shaping cultural understanding.