The customers were the city authorities planning to place in the new building Cocteau's artwork from the collection of about 1,500 pieces of the collection of the recently deceased collector Severin Wunderman [Severin Wunderman].
Ricciotti in his project reworked the traditional Mediterranean architecture theme of the portico in front of the façade. A 1.5 m wide gallery will be located along the perimeter of the building, the floors of which will support irregularly shaped “wall fragments” 0.5 m thick. The alternation of white stripes and dark openings will create an attractive decorative effect. This "colonnade" will protect museum visitors and bystanders from the sun, as well as prevent overheating of the glass walls of the building.
The structure, located near the historic center of Menton, will not be high: on the contrary, some of its premises will be underground. The main part of its interior space will be occupied by an exhibition hall on a semi-basement floor with a ceiling height of 7 m. The total usable area of the building will be 2,700 sq. M. m. The project budget is 8.5 million euros. The museum is due to open in 2011.
