The whimsical façade
An historical medley
The museum focuses on the peoples of the Mediterranean Sea area and there are countless stories to be told about them, from Istanbul to Gibraltar and from the Rosetta Stone to the Palermo mafia. Not only can you learn about the colonisation of Algeria, but also, for example, about the beach culture of the French Riviera. Rudy Ricciotti, the Algerian-French architect who designed the museum, is himself a product of different Mediterranean cultures. And that can clearly be seen: the artistic ambition is unmistakably French while the shapes, like those of the façade, give the building a North African touch. The MuCEM takes on a different colour depending on the weather and time of day. This is particularly noticeable on a sunny day, when you can see a lovely interplay between light and shadow in the whimsical shapes of the façade.
Cleverly connected to the city
One of the most eye-catching aspects of the MuCEM is the narrow footbridge. High above the water, it links the museum to the historic Fort Saint-Jean like a pencil line, connecting the slick modernity of the museum to the classic beauty of the fort. At the fort, visitors will find even more exhibition rooms and a second bridge that connects the complex to the rest of the city. This promenade forms a link between the waterfront and higher-lying section of the city.
