LA TABLE DES MATIÈRES
La Table des Matières, Villa Paloma
(c) NMNM, Daniele Ansidei, 2012
La Table des Matières is a library, forum and social hub, designed by Jonathan Olivares Design Research for the NMNM. Positioned at the entrance to the museum’s Villa Paloma, the room offers an informal environment to reflect on the museum’s exhibition, education and horticulture programs. A framework of wall-mounted templates, inspired by blogs, allow the museum’s curators, education coordinator and gardener to regularly post books, videos, plants, useful tools, descriptive texts and news for the visitor, and allow them to leave comments and their contact information for the museum.
Seated at tables within the space, visitors can utilize the room’s resources, learn and discuss. The room’s southern wall bears a view of the Mediterranean Sea and the room’s northern wall is host to the Work of The Month, a revolving work of art, selected by the museum’s curators. Translated literally, La Table des Matières means “table of contents”. The French term, however, implies a broader arrangement of raw material or matter. This room serves as an index of the museum’s activities, and was designed as a resource of materials.
Drawing from writer and thinker Edouard Glissant, NMNM sees the museum as a network of relations between various perceptions, an active laboratory building links between disciplines, a marker in an archipelago of knowledge.
La Table des Matières is located on the ground floor of NMNM-Villa Paloma and is accessible during the museum’s opening hours. No appointment is necessary.
