Museum of the Word and Image (MUPI) Extension and Remodelling Design
Radio Venceremos, located in the Department of Morazán, played a fundamental role during the civil war in El Salvador by disseminating information and popular resistance. Founded by the FMLN, it became an important voice for the community by transmitting informative, educational, and cultural programs and messages of support for the revolutionary struggle.
The main objectives of the MUPI are to rescue and preserve documentary collections; to support community participation in the study of the society and history of El Salvador; to assist local and indigenous communities in documenting their memories and in cultural production; to create publications and exhibitions to generate knowledge, debate and citizen participation; and to promote research on culture and historical memory in the country. The MUPI has one of the most important archives in the country, spanning from 1872 to the present, including videos, films, audios, books and photographs related to the history of El Salvador and its social movements, including the civil war.
The buildings at MUPI
The Museum of Word and Image (MUPI) is located in a spacious house in a busy area of San Salvador. The building has a single façade, done in modernist style with Art-Deco influence. The management offices, work areas and storage rooms of the museum are located in the back of the house. The second floor contains more offices, meeting rooms and the documentation centre.
The museum lacks significant outdoor spaces, except for an elevated platform between the street and the museum. The exhibition rooms are spread out over the available spaces, which creates an interesting atmosphere, though it can make it difficult to understand the museum spatially. Currently, the rooms house thematic exhibitions, some of which are permanent—such as, for example, the exhibitions on the history of El Salvador, on the Radio Venceremos station, and on photos and documents related to Moneñor Romero—while others are temporary, such as the embroidery exhibitions and COVID-19-related topics.
Until 2022, the MUPI rented an adjacent plot of land with some informal construction at the front. This plot of land has a large yard used as a parking lot for museum vehicles, as well as air-conditioned storage rooms and other spaces for the conservation of archives. In the yard there are two leafy trees that give a special quality to the space. At the back there is a metal and sheet metal structure, with a mezzanine made of wooden planks, which is used as a workshop space and general storage room. The buildings on this plot of land are of an industrial type and with no architectural pretensions.
It is important to note that the two properties are not physically connected, though they are adjacent.
Design for the MUPI extension and Remodeling Project
In 2022, the MUPI acquired the land that it previously rented, which has made it possible to visualize an expansion project for the museum. This project has several important objectives:
Organization of the archives
The MUPI seeks to organise its archives in a more accessible and visually integrated manner, so that the public can easily access them for research activities. The aim is for the archives to play a more prominent role in the museum's visual identity, rather than being relegated to specialized and invisible spaces.
Space for conferences and events
The MUPI wishes to create a space dedicated to conferences and independent events. This space will be able to accommodate around 100 people and is intended to be independently accessible from the main museum areas, to offer flexibility in its use. In addition, this space can be rented for independent events.
General storage and workspace
The museum needs to maintain a large general storage and workspace, as well as vehicle access, to properly manage its activities and the conservation of its collections.
Accessibility
We want to consider accessibility, for people in wheelchairs, to the public spaces of the MUPI. Since the museum currently does not have the appropriate conditions, this project represents an opportunity to improve accessibility for all visitors.
Continuity of Activities and Budget
While the project contemplates the possibility of reorganizing the museum's existing spaces—such as the exhibition areas, offices and documentation center—it also wants to ensure the continuity of the museum's activities, avoiding a closure or the need to temporarily relocate the collections outside its facilities. In addition, adequate financing will be sought to carry out the project within a reasonable budget.
The museum's reception area currently houses a small shop that sells books, DVDs, games and other items related to MUPI's activities. As part of the expansion project, also planned is the addition of a cafeteria and small restaurant space that can be integrated with the reception area. This space will not only seek to generate income, but also facilitate events and promote an atmosphere of social exchange with both visitors and local people.
In summary, the MUPI expansion project aims to improve the organization of the archives, create a space for conferences and events, guarantee accessibility, maintain the workspace and the general storage, integrate the museum with the public space and ensure the continuity of activities, all while staying within a realistic budget.
