Although the provincial museums of Fine Arts and Archaeology were officially merged into the Museum of Málaga in 1973, the city had not been able to assemble their respective holdings in a single venue—until now. Finally, after years of popular demands and efforts, today these collections have been united under the same roof in the old Customs House, restored and transformed for use as a museum by the architects Fernando Pardo, Bernardo García Tapia and Ángel Pérez Mora.
The task of producing the display architecture and installing the artworks—with an emphasis on 19th-century paintings—and archaeological artefacts—ranging from prehistory to the Middle Ages and the splendour of the Nasrid dynasty—at the new museum was carried out by Empty, based on plans designed by Frade Arquitectos. This project involved a wide range of tasks: editing and translating texts and scripts, designing and creating custom display supports, manufacturing display cases and producing graphics (maps and illustrations), audiovisuals, scale models, scenographic elements and other resources to facilitate the interpretation of the exhibits.
Empty’s involvement in this project, which also extended to the furnishings and signage for public areas, has made it possible to complete what will undoubtedly be one of the most important museums in Andalusia.
