Museums in the 21st Century: Concepts Projects Buildings

Photo © Diller Scoficio + RenfroDiller Scofidio + RenfroNew York, NY, USA

The projects represented highlights the diverse personalities and handwritings of the architects.

The museum has assumed the role of an urban landmark, formerly fulfilled by the cathedral, serving as a symbol of cultural identification.

A spectacular museum building can enhance a city's attractiveness, shifting a remote locale into public awareness through its striking presence, or endowing a fallow industrial zone with a new function.


Photo: Niki Lackner courtesy Kunsthaus GrazSpacelab Peter Cook/Colin FournierKunsthaus Graz am Landesmuseum JoanneumGraz, Austria

Illustrated by 27 of the world's leading museum building projects, realized since the turn of the century, the exhibition presents the most important trends in museum architecture.

The projects, represented by a selection of sketches, architectural plans, photographs and models, as well as multimedia displays, highlights the diverse personalities and handwritings of the star architects.

Among the projects represented are:


Photo © Anamorphosis architectsAnamorphosis ArchitectsMuseum of the Hellenic World (2009-2011)Athens, Greece

Sketch © Fumihiko Maki + Maki and AssociatesFumihiko Maki + Maki and AssociatesShimane Museum of Ancient Izumo (2002-2006)Shimane, Japan

Image courtesy Allied Works ArchitectureBrad CloepfilAllied Works ArchitectureUMMAUniversity of Michigan Art MuseumAnn Arbor MI, USA

Image © Zaha Hadid ArchitectsZaha Hadid ArchitectsMAXXI (2003-2007)Rome, Italy

Image © CA2M, Shigeru Ban Architects EuropeShigeru Ban / Jean de GastinesCentre Pompidou Metz (2006-2008)Metz, Lothringen, France

Frank O GehryModel photo © Gehry Partners, LLPGehry Partners LLPWashington, DC, USA

Model photo courtesy Rafael ViñolyRafael ViñolyThe Cleveland Museum of ArtCleveland, OH, USA

Sketch © Jun Aoki & AssociatesJun Aoki & AssociatesAomori Museum of Art (1999-2005)Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan

Photo: Michel DenancéRenzo Piano Building WorkshopZentrum Paul KleeBern, Switzerland

Photo © Tadao Ando/by Mitsuo MatsuokaTadao Ando Architect & AssociatesChichu Art Museum (2004)Naoshima, Kagawa, Japan

Photo © Mario Botta by Pino MusiMario BottaMART (1988-2002)Museo di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Trento e RoveretoTrento, Italy

Photo © AJN: Architectures Jean NouvelAJN: Architectures Jean NouvelMusée du Quai Branly (1999-2005)Paris, France

Photo: Philip WegenerDaniel LibeskindFrederic C. Hamilton BuildingDenver Art MuseumDenver, CO, USA

Photo: Pavilion "Hearing" © Heinrich HelfensteinAnnette Gigon / Mike GuyerMuseum and Park Kalkriese (1998-2002)Osnabrück, Germany

Also included are:

Coop Himmelb(l)au
Musée des Confluences
Lyon, France

Bernard Tschumi
The New Acropolis Museum
Athens, Greece

Steven Holl
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art expansion
Kansas City
MO, USA

Kisho Kurokawa
The National Art Center
Tokyo, Japan

Wood/Marsh Pty Ltd Architecture
ACCA (1996-2002)
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Atelier brückner, ART+COM
New conception of the BMW museum
Munich, Germany

Stephan Braunfels
Pinakothek der Moderne
Munich, Germany

David Chipperfield
Museumsinsel Berlin (Masterplan)
Berlin, Germany

Denton Corker Marshall Group
Stonehenge
Visitor Centre and Interpretive Museum
Wiltshire, UK

Taniguchi and Associates
Expansion of the Museum of Modern Art
New York, NY, USA

We wonder why "The 21st Century Museum" by SANAA is not included:

SANAA
21st Century Museum
Kanazawa, Japan