Panama's Biomuseo (Museum of Biodiversity) will host its grand opening on October 2, 2014, Forbes reports.
The new museum is teeming with architect Frank Gehry's signature style of free flowing shapes, but departs from the metallic and curvy look of a classic Gehry building.
The museum is a $100 million project affiliated with the Smithsonian, the result of a collaboration between the non-profit Amador Foundation, which was established by citizens of Panama to raise awareness of the country's natural and cultural history.
The site for the project, which has views of the Bay of Panama to the north and the Panama Canal to the south, was provided by the government of Panama.
Gehry drew inspiration from the site's natural and cultural surroundings: vibrantly colored canopies reflect local Panamanian tin roofs, as well as a six-acre outdoor biodiversity park that acts as an open-air extension of the museum itself.
Gehry told Forbes: “This has been a very personal project for me. I feel close ties to the people of Panama, and I believe strongly that we should all be trying to conserve biodiversity, which is threatened everywhere.”
Forbes has the full story.
All images courtesy Biomuseo. Photos: ©Fernando Alda
Related Stories
Architects | Sep 6, 2018
S/L/A/M Collaborative completes merger with L.A.-based firm
The healthcare sector is one of Frank Webb Architects’ strengths.
Giants 400 | Sep 6, 2018
What's happening at 89 design firms
The latest developments at 89 of the nation's largest architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms.
Architects | Sep 6, 2018
Little details, big questions: Occupancy planning 101 for healthcare facilities
Transitioning into a new hospital is no easy feat and daily tasks can have a huge impact.
Architects | Aug 14, 2018
AIA takes a firmer stand on making schools safer with better design
The Institute urges the formation of a federal clearinghouse for best practices, and wants security-related design to be eligible for grants.
Architects | Aug 9, 2018
The convergence of product design and architecture
Great design is born out of simplicity, purity, timelessness, unobtrusiveness and intuitiveness.
Architects | Aug 1, 2018
Client experience as competitive advantage for AEC firms
Clients are looking for solutions to their business problems from collaborative advisors. They’ve come to expect a higher level of service and detail than what was provided in the past.
AEC Tech | Jul 24, 2018
Weidt Group’s Net Energy Optimizer now available as software as a service
The proprietary energy analysis tool is open for use by the public.
Building Owners | Jul 17, 2018
Are we facing a new era in Foreign Direct Investment?
The construction industry is already feeling the effects of the recent tariffs, not only with higher steel and aluminum prices, but with higher prices on Canadian lumber.
Codes and Standards | Jul 17, 2018
NIMBYism, generational divide threaten plan for net-zero village in St. Paul, Minn.
The ambitious redevelopment proposal for a former Ford automotive plant creates tension.