Bridge of Life Museum
Gehry Partners, LLP
Panama City, Panama
Panama is the ideal place to showcase biodiversity. Its
wealth of natural life, diversity of environments and climate, and
abundance of water combine to produce an unparalleled intensity at
every scale of the chain of life.
In order to best display the diversity of life in Panama, the
Bridge of Life Museum is nestled in a park-like setting that
highlights the natural diversity of Panama in an accessible and
easy-to-visit space.

Model photo courtesy FOGA
The landscaping of the park is designed by world-renowned
landscape designer Edwina von Gal & Company. Ms. von Gal and
her team produce landscapes that are clearly structured, yet loose,
making them an ideal complement to the design of the Bridge of Life
building.

Model photo courtesy FOGA
The building's pavilions house extraordinary interactive exhibits that allow the visitor to get close to nature.
The pavilions are topped with colorful roofs that will be visible at great distance by visitors arriving via cruise ships to the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. Collectively, these roofs will create a jagged and twisting silhouette that will be a clear representation of the forces of nature that shape our world. The building a memorable experience even when viewed from afar.
The Bridge of Life building will be located in the Amador area of Panama City, at the tip of a causeway on the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. This privileged location is a few blocks away from the main cruise ship port in Panama, and minutes away from Panama's Soberania National Park, a lush rain forest preserve that is immediately adjacent to Panama City.
This area has a rich history; it originally consisted of a
series of islands that were linked by a causeway created from rocks
dug out during the creation of the Panama Canal. The Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute (STRI) has a marine research station in
one of the islands, and there is a beautiful marina as well as
shops and restaurants.
Amador offers visitors to Panama an unparalleled opportunity to
experience the best of what this country has to offer. With the
creation of the Bridge of Life museum, it will also offer an
exciting window into Panama's rich natural life.

Sketch courtesy FOGA

Sketch courtesy FOGA 
Drawing courtesy FOGA
Plan

Drawing courtesy FOGA
Section

Drawing courtesy FOGA
Section
Facts about Bridge of Life Museum
Client:
Last updated: February 01, 2013
See also
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ExhibitionsFrank Gehry: At Work
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ExhibitionsMoving. Norman Foster on Art
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BookcaseConversations with Students
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BookcaseSketchbook
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BookcaseImagining the House
















