MUBA Museo dei bambini e delle bambine

The MUBA (Museum of Children and Adolescents) is conceived as more than a cultural facility: it acts as a catalyst for urban and social regeneration in the Pilastro district of Bologna. Its goal is twofold: to foster creativity, learning, and social interaction among young people, and to help overcome the neighbourhood’s marginality by reconnecting it to the wider city. The museum becomes a place of inclusion, community gathering, and new urban centrality, aligned with broader initiatives such as Impronta Verde and sustainable mobility strategies.

A key aspect is its relationship with the Mitilini, Moneta, Stefanini Park. The project balances architectural presence with environmental respect, enhancing the park while maintaining a strong symbolic identity. The building acts discreetly, integrating with the landscape without compromising it. A participatory design approach further strengthens community involvement, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing social conflicts.

Architecturally, MUBA integrates with the park as a natural extension, while maintaining a distinct identity. In contrast to the rigid surrounding buildings, it adopts an organic and fluid language, establishing dialogue with nature rather than the existing urban fabric. Connections with nearby facilities, such as Casa Gialla and Biblioteca Spina, are created through open spaces and courtyards, ensuring continuity.

The spatial organization is based on fluid geometries derived from intersecting circles, avoiding rigid hierarchies. The museum is conceived as an experiential journey, promoting active learning through interaction. Visitors are free to explore without fixed paths, supported by dynamic elements like ramps, suspended walkways, and double-height spaces. Continuity between interior and exterior is reinforced by accessible green roofs and landscape interventions, including mounds created from excavation materials.