MVRDV, in collaboration with Balance Architettura, has revealed its winning design for the comprehensive renovation of Turin’s Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GAM Torino). The proposal carefully restores the museum’s celebrated 1959 modernist architecture while introducing innovative features that redefine how visitors experience art.
Through adaptable exhibition spaces, publicly accessible collection storage, improved sustainability, and stronger urban connections, the project positions GAM Torino as a forward-thinking cultural institution designed to meet the evolving expectations of 21st-century museums.
Modernist Landmark to Preserve Its Architectural Identity
The renovation respectfully revives the original vision of architects Carlo Bassi and Goffredo Boschetti, whose 1959 design was considered highly progressive for its time. Closed skylights will once again flood the galleries with natural daylight, while unnecessary internal partitions and exterior fire escape structures will be removed to restore the openness and flexibility that originally defined the building.
These interventions allow visitors to experience the museum much as its architects first intended, while meeting modern safety and operational standards.
Flexible Exhibition Spaces Designed for Constant Transformation
One of the project’s most significant innovations is the introduction of a highly adaptable exhibition system that allows museum staff to easily transform gallery layouts for changing exhibitions. Suspended rails installed between the structural columns will support movable walls, curtains, lighting systems, and display elements, creating exceptional flexibility without permanent alterations.
This adaptable infrastructure enables GAM Torino to host a broader range of exhibitions, installations, performances, and educational programmes while maintaining spacious, uninterrupted gallery environments.
Open Storage and Public Spaces for an Elevated Museum Experience
The renovation dramatically expands public access by converting the museum’s basement into an open storage facility where visitors can view artworks that traditionally remain hidden from public display. Above ground, a new diagonal pedestrian route cuts through the museum grounds, creating a welcoming public plaza that naturally connects Turin’s city centre with the Polytechnic University and OGR Torino.
Large glass surfaces provide views into the collection below, encouraging curiosity and making the museum an active part of everyday urban life rather than a standalone destination.
Sustainability and Cultural Preservation Shape the Museum’s Future
MVRDV integrates environmental responsibility throughout the renovation by restoring original furniture, reusing materials recovered during demolition, and upgrading the performance of the museum’s skylights to improve energy efficiency.
Instead of replacing historic elements, the project prioritises careful conservation while embracing contemporary technologies and sustainable construction practices.
Scheduled to begin in 2027, the renovation by MVRDV establishes GAM Torino as a model for how historic museums can successfully balance heritage preservation, environmental performance, and evolving public expectations.
Image Credit: MVRDV
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