The Museum of Aids in Africa is a contribution to the social, historic and emotional impact of HIV/AIDS pandemic to transform grief into resilience and innovation – through memory, work, knowledge-sharing and skills development – supported by the power of technology and the inspiration of design.
Rather than create a single museum, the Museum of AIDS in Africa is creating a network of ‘Healing and Learning Spaces’ that function as mini-museums, spread throughout the continent, starting in Durban, South Africa. It is prefabricated, easy to assemble, transportable, low cost and locally adaptable for uses of memorialisation, education and advocacy.
In response to the different programmatic requirements, we developed a versatile museum structure that allows flexibility of space and use – for gathering, workshop, exhibitions, film screening. The museum structure consists of two parts; a large folding roof/wall element and an enclosed room for storage and services. The folding element can be moved to open, close, divide or expand the spaces to create intimacy for personal moments or openness for public uses. The structure is made from a standard lightweight steel system typically used for dry-wall construction, covered in an art printed outer fabric and inner layer, co-created in collaboration with its host communities. Designed to easily adapt to its local environment, the Museum of AIDS in Africa aims to be easily replicated across the continent.
