Aircraft Carrier Museum

RIO DE JANEIRO

A Best Use for a Battleship

Built in France between 1957 and 1960, the aircraft carrier NAe (Ship-Aerodrome) São Paulo arrived in Brazil in 2001, occupying the position of flagship ship of the Brazilian Navy. However, NAe was deactivated in 2017, pending for another destination.

The project aimed to carry out studies to propose the implementation of a floating maritime museum on the ship’s premises. A diagnosis of the current structure of the ship and the spaces that could be destined for visitation were carried out, arriving at the proposal of the program of uses, the dynamics of visitation and the cost estimate for implementation and viability of the proposal.

The ship is currently docked at the Navy base on Ilha das Cobras, in Rio de Janeiro. Location studies were carried out for the new museum, analyzing its relationship with the urban context, existing and complementary uses in the surroundings, logistical ease, ease of access and proximity to services and other cultural facilities in the city.

Museu Porta-Aviões
Museu Porta-Aviões
Museu Porta-Aviões
Museu Porta-Aviões
caption: 1) front elevator; 2) engine room; 3) rear gears; 4) cabins and cafeterias; 5) hangar; 6) room for arms; 7) airstrip and takeoff; 8) anchor gear and cabins.

Among the spaces identified as visitable on the aircraft carrier, are the decks where the various rooms and structures of the ship are located, the landing and take-off runway and the cockpit.

According to the visitor´s interest, two types of visits are suggested: the self-guided visit and the specialized visit. The latter was planned for small groups who want to go deeper into the aircraft carrier’s facilities, being possible to access other spaces of the vessel, different from those proposed in the self-guided tour. It is proposed a circulation system based on a system of guidance by blocks, signage and colors.

The potential uses identified include expository uses, such as exhibition rooms, interactive and multimedia rooms, aircraft exhibitions; support areas, such as cafe, restaurant, store; specific uses, such as auditorium and event space, space for observation and astronomical activity; in addition to services such as box office, information, receptive and sanitary.