Pecci Centre for Contemporary Art

WORDS Cheri Morris IMAGES Pecci Centre

The Pecci Centre for Contemporary Art in Prato recently opened as the only public museum in Italy after undergoing an extension that sees the construction of an entirely new wing with a unique architectural impact.

The centre was originally conceived by entrepreneur Enrico Pecci and serves to promote sensitivity to emerging art through the hosting of temporary exhibits, didactic activities, shows and multimedia events. The extension provides the pre-existing structure designed by Italo Gamberini with new functions and doubles the surface area to facilitate the establishment of new relationships between the museum and the city.

The enlargement project began in 2006 under Dutch architect Maurice Nio; founder of Rotterdam-based studio NIO Architecture. Nio’s project entitled Sensing the Waves intends to connect the centre and the area in which it is located to make contemporary art more accessible to the public.

The new wing of the building is shaped in a golden ring that traces over the contours of the surrounding garden. Once complete, the complex will cover a surface area of 10 000 square metres and feature an archive, specialist library, open-air theatre, cinema/auditorium, performance space, bookshop, pub/bistro, restaurant and various workshop/meeting rooms. The highest point of the complex features an antenna-like structure that signifies the centre’s function as a receptor and transmitter for the vibrations of the present time.

The Municipality of Prato is currently in a time of great design creativity and OBR with Michel Desvigne has just won first prize in the international competition to design the new Parco Centrale (Central Park).