Towards museum-like sites: the cases of Florence, Rio De Janeiro and New York City

There are places in the world, such as churches, public buildings, or stadiums, that hold special meaning, house artistic heritage, or stand as symbols. In addition to typical visitors, such sites attract non-typical visitors, namely tourists. They are sites that are not museums but that are used as if they were. These circumstances create an unusual condition that, in theory, requires strategic managerial choices, since the museum-like use adds to the traditional use. In light of this, the question must be asked: Can contemporary museum practices be implemented at museum-like sites, while preserving the original function of the sites? The main research question leads to further queries. For example: when is a site also a museum? Can different collective social behaviors be considered rituals? How can different behaviors/rituals be managed in the same place? Can different narratives and behaviors coexist? If so, how? In particular, what tools and design solutions can an architect apply? This research focuses on the set of issues related to sites that are enjoyed as “museums,” while maintaining their original use. The research develops in two main parts. Following the introduction, the first part describes the theoretical framework, in which general concepts about museums and rituals are related to the research subject. The second is dedicated to the case studies. To answer to the research question, the study aims to construct a theoretical and multidisciplinary framework that helps to interpret complex situations. In fact, the theoretical part is a tool for understanding such spaces and their users. The analysis of the cases enables answering both the main questions and the sub-questions of the research. The selected case studies are: the Complex and Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy; the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, New York City, NY, USA.