Kos: A design for the Baths Museum

Abstract

The contribution is based on a recent survey conducted as part of a degree thesis on "The Central Baths of Kos", held at the Department DICAR the Polytechnic of Bari under the scientific direction of Prof. G. Rocco and Prof .M. Livadiotti. The proposed design of a “Museum of the Baths”, to be realized in an archaeological area, therefore, is founded on a thorough preliminary historical research, the result of more than twenty years of studies of these scholars in Dodecanese (Greece). The Museum, in a central position near the ancient agora, occupies the space of five ancient insulae south of the thermal building, ensuring its readability and creating a multi-poles museum which could be potentially replicated in the surrounding areas. The management of the space inside the Museum takes in account the geometric ratio of the typical Hellenistic block. The choice of a wooden construction system was dictatd by several considerations especially in order to the possibility of the presence of not yet investigated runs under the new building. It was chosen therefore a system that ensures the support to the ground without damaging any ancient structures below, considering how premise of the project was the reversibility. Besides, this architectural object offers the opportunity of a better protection of archaeological sites, ensuring its study and visit. The museum fulfills the dual purpos of collecting and exposing the architectura fragments discovered. The project of teachig materials and exhibition routes tries to make clear the complex history of the building and functioning of thermal baths, displayed in all its phases in a chronological order. In addition, the arrangement of the exposition and every single support, panel and thematic path have been studied. The whole ensures a complete comprehension of the expsed material and of the archaeological site.