Museums exist for two primary purposes, to enlighten the mind and ignite the creative soul. Defined as 'a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited', the beauty of the buildings themselves is often overlooked.
International Museum Day celebrates their purpose and cultural impact on society, so join us as we celebrate five museums that boast architecture as stunning as the art they put on display.
Musee du Louvre
The Pyramide du Louvre
Is there a more iconic museum than The Louvre in Paris, France? Originally a medieval fortress, the structure transformed into a royal palace in the 14th century and endured regular reconstruction until part of the was made into a public museum in 1793. Designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei in 1989, The Pyramide du Louvre was initially met with criticism due to clashing between the glass and steel structure's modern design with the Louvre's Classical architecture.
Downtown Los Angeles is home to The Broad, a contemporary art museum that houses a nearly 2,000-piece collection of contemporary art, including works by Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. Designed by Diller Scofidio Renfro, the $140 million building has a bright, honeycomb exterior that is modeled after the firm's concept of "the veil and the vault". The building's veil is represented by its fiberglass encasing which encompasses the structure's three stories, with the vault being the 50,000 square feet of art exhibition space nestled inside.
Spanish artist Salvador Dali is recognized as a surrealist mastermind, with his iconic paintings The Persistence of Memory and The Elephant surviving as two of his most recognizable works. Built in 1982, the Salvador Dali Museum in Saint Petersburg houses some of Dali's most well-known work. During its design, architecture firm HOK faced the challenge of creating a building capable of representing the artist's distinctive work while avoiding an over-the-top architectural aesthetic. The firm created an elegant organic shape, composed of a geodesic triangulation structure made of steel and glass, which encases a sturdy white box capable of defending Dali's iconic artwork from natural disaster.
Teetering on a rock in Brenner Pass, Italy is The Timmelsjoch Experience Pass Museum, a concrete structure that could be easily mistaken for a large boulder. The structure is one of several museums along the Alpine ridge designed by architecture firm Tscholl Werner. The sculptural museums allow travelers a break from the road and a chance to discover the location's natural surroundings and its remarkable pioneers who embody the history of the region, all nestled between four walls.
Dallas, Texas is home to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, which is separated into two campuses and visited by upward of 1 million annually. The structure was designed in 2005 by Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects and conceptualized as a floating cube over a stabilized base. This distinctive design is meant to evoke a sense of optimism and inspire awareness of the importance of science. With its LED lighting and solar-powered water heating, Perot earned the Green Building Initiative's highest award of four Green Globes.
Five of the World's Most Architecturally Stunning Museums
Museums exist for two primary purposes, to enlighten the mind and ignite the creative soul. Defined as 'a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited', the beauty of the buildings themselves is often overlooked.
International Museum Day celebrates their purpose and cultural impact on society, so join us as we celebrate five museums that boast architecture as stunning as the art they put on display.
Musee du Louvre
The Pyramide du Louvre
Is there a more iconic museum than The Louvre in Paris, France? Originally a medieval fortress, the structure transformed into a royal palace in the 14th century and endured regular reconstruction until part of the was made into a public museum in 1793. Designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei in 1989, The Pyramide du Louvre was initially met with criticism due to clashing between the glass and steel structure's modern design with the Louvre's Classical architecture.
See more photos of The Louvre.
The Broad
The Broad Museum
Downtown Los Angeles is home to The Broad, a contemporary art museum that houses a nearly 2,000-piece collection of contemporary art, including works by Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. Designed by Diller Scofidio Renfro, the $140 million building has a bright, honeycomb exterior that is modeled after the firm's concept of "the veil and the vault". The building's veil is represented by its fiberglass encasing which encompasses the structure's three stories, with the vault being the 50,000 square feet of art exhibition space nestled inside.
See more photos of The Broad.
Salvador Dali Museum
Salvador Dali Museum
Spanish artist Salvador Dali is recognized as a surrealist mastermind, with his iconic paintings The Persistence of Memory and The Elephant surviving as two of his most recognizable works. Built in 1982, the Salvador Dali Museum in Saint Petersburg houses some of Dali's most well-known work. During its design, architecture firm HOK faced the challenge of creating a building capable of representing the artist's distinctive work while avoiding an over-the-top architectural aesthetic. The firm created an elegant organic shape, composed of a geodesic triangulation structure made of steel and glass, which encases a sturdy white box capable of defending Dali's iconic artwork from natural disaster.
See more photos of the Salvador Dali Museum.
The Timmelsjoch Experience Pass Museum
The Timmelsjoch Experience Pass Museum
Teetering on a rock in Brenner Pass, Italy is The Timmelsjoch Experience Pass Museum, a concrete structure that could be easily mistaken for a large boulder. The structure is one of several museums along the Alpine ridge designed by architecture firm Tscholl Werner. The sculptural museums allow travelers a break from the road and a chance to discover the location's natural surroundings and its remarkable pioneers who embody the history of the region, all nestled between four walls.
See more photos of the Timmelsjoch Experience Pass Museum.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Perot Museum
Dallas, Texas is home to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, which is separated into two campuses and visited by upward of 1 million annually. The structure was designed in 2005 by Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects and conceptualized as a floating cube over a stabilized base. This distinctive design is meant to evoke a sense of optimism and inspire awareness of the importance of science. With its LED lighting and solar-powered water heating, Perot earned the Green Building Initiative's highest award of four Green Globes.
See more photos of the Perot Museum.
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Salvador Dali Museum - Exterior