An archaeological museum must find the delicate balance between heritage conservation exposed and release to the public. A site museum, as the Paracas, acquires the additional challenge of having to integrate into the landscape that was the cradle of this culture, which is now part of the most important biological and landscaping reserve of the Peruvian coastal desert. 

Courtesy of Barclay & Crousse

Architects: Barclay & Crousse

Location: Ica, Peru

Authors: Sandra Barclay, Jean Pierre Crousse

Area: 1170.0 m2

Project Year: 2016

Photographs: Courtesy of Barclay & Crousse, Cristobal Palma / Estudio Palma , Erieta Attali

Assistants: Rodrigo Apolaya
Estructural Engineer: Antonio Blanco

Contractor: Consorcio Paracas

Client: Agencia Española para la Cooperación Internacional (AECID)

© Erieta Attali

From the architect. An archaeological museum must find the delicate balance between heritage conservation exposed and release to the public. A site museum, as the Paracas, acquires the additional challenge of having to integrate into the landscape that was the cradle of this culture, which is now part of the most important biological and landscaping reserve of the Peruvian coastal desert. 

© Cristobal Palma / Estudio Palma

The project is implemented practically on the ruins of what was its predecessor, destroyed by an earthquake in 200...