25 Modern Museums
From Egg Cup Architecture to Sinuous Ribbon Museums:
Meghan Young — Nov 3, 2009 — Art & Design
When you travel, it’s more than likely that you’ll spend a good portion of your trip checking out museums and the treasures they hold -- this I can tell you from experience. When I traveled in Europe, at one point it seemed that all we did was visit museums! Halfway through we could no longer take it anymore, however, if all the museums were architectural gems like these modern museums, it may have seemed slightly more promising.
25
Constantly Changing Museum Hotels
The Museumotel Utopia
24
Folded Buildings
Rio de Janiero's Museum of Image and Sound Looks Layered
23
Latticed Public Architecture
Redesigned Queens Museum of Art Boasts Web-Like Structure
22
Tidal Wave Architecture
Tsunami Museum is Covered in Water Walls, Filled With History
21
Iconic Museum Makeovers
Plans Revealed for Upgrade of London's Tate Modern
20
Hog Heaven
Harley-Davidson Museum
19
Eco Museums
San Francisco's Academy of Sciences
18
Nestle Chocolate Museum
Sweet Mexican Factory
17
Sharp Architecture
The New Denver of Museum of Art
16
Museum Hotels
21C
15
Green Museums
California Academy of Sciences (UPDATE)
14
Drive-In Museums
China's Automobile Museum Never Makes You Get Out of the Car
13
Museo Aero Solar
Plastic Bages Form Flying Museum
12
Otherworldly Art Museums
Waterflux Alpine Ice Research Station Looks Extraterrestrial
11
Outrageous Architecture Contests
UK Narrows Down Final Designs for Imperial War Museum
10
Sinuous Ribbon Museums
Winding Layers of Steel Craft the Design Museum Holon
9
Egg Cup Architecture
Check Out the Soumaya Museum in Mexico City by Lar & Fernando Romero
8
Multi-Cultural Projects in Dubai
Museum of Middle East Modern Art
7
Tunneled Art Museums
The Museum Liaunig Takes Artistry Underground
6
Underwater Museum in China
Shipwreck Could Have 80,000 Treasures
5
Multi-Color Museums
Modern Art is Somewhere Over the Rainbow at Brandhorst Museum
4
MUSAC
The Museum of Contemporanean Art Castilla and Leon
3
Art Wrapped Architecture
'Louis Vuitton: A Passion for Creation' on Side of Hong Kong Museum
2
Disappearing Buildings
The Nomadic Museum
1
UFO Buildings
The Art Museum Strongoli in Calabria, Italy
Related Ideas
Museum-Inspired High-Fashion Stores
Erdem Opens Its Second Retail Location in London
Modern Cultural Institutions
Centre SANAAQ Opened in Montreal's Peter-Mcgill District
Playful Children's Library Designs
Studio Vapore Creates a Whimsical Children's Library
Futuristic Baroque Rome Hotels
Zaha Hadid Architects Revives the Remeo Hotel Roma
Universal Icon Exhibitions
The Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs Explores Language Without Words
Historically Inspired Modern Homes
MU Architecture Balances Historic Charm & Modern Sensibilities
Thailand International Modern Museums
WHY Architecture Unveils a Look at the Dib Bangkok Museum
Shoe Craft Heritage Museums
Shoemaker’s Museum by Purcell Restores Historic Winchester Site
Immersive Luxury Exhibits
Louis Vuitton Opens 'Visionary Journeys' at a Museum in Osaka
Artful Updated 70s Apartment
Oikonomakis Siampakoulis architects Forms the Art Curator's Apartment
Staircase-Centric Flagship Stores
Herzog & de Meuron Designs the Toteme Beijing Store
Adaptive Paris Museums
The Fondation Cartier Opens a New Jean Nouvel–designed Space
Elegantly Minimalist Retail Environments
Entre Quatre Murs Designs the Klozet Boutique
Automotive Design Philosophy Exhibits
Kia Showcases Two Exhibits at Milan Design Week 2025
Archive Film Exhibitions
The Wes Anderson the Archives Presents Artefacts from His Film Work
Floating Art Museums
Tadao Ando’s Dubai Museum of Art Embraces Light, Water and Heritage
Minty Modern Cafes
StudioAC Designs a Stunning Coffee Establishment in Toronto
Pointy Modular Hospitality Architecture
Roman & Dmytro Seliuk Designs the Futuristic Namety Cabins
Art-Inspired Toy Collections
Hape x The Met Makes Masterpieces Accessible & Play-Inspiring
Contemporary Art Libraries
Espace Gabrielle Chanel is a Large Public Art Library in Shanghai
Intricately Artistic Fashion Lines
Pacsun and the Metropolitan Museum of Art Drop a Holiday Line
University Art Landmarks
Princeton University Art Museum by Adjaye Associates Redefines Art
Walkable Steel Sculptures
Five Fragmented Cubes Uses Folded Panels to Create an Immersive Design
Honoring Art Restoration Displays
MoMA Presents the Many Lives of the Nakagin Capsule Tower
Danish Design Museums
A Restored Farmstead Now Honors the Craftsmanship of Hans J. Wegner
Museum-Inspired Spring Fashion Capsules
Pacsun is Partnering with the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Chic Avant-Garde Restaurant Interiors
Estereotomia Architects Designs Masahouse
Curved Green Roof-Topped Museums
Atelier Alter Architects Designs the Sunner Museum in China
Rerfeshed Historic Workspaces
Daytrip’s Cloisters Interiors Boasts Modern Furniture Design
Modernist Art-Deco Cafés
The Watchhouse Café Brings Modernist Warmth to New York’s Iconic Tower
Modernist Home Renovations
The Bauhaus Budapest Apartment Receives a Contemporary Refresh
Modern Museum Transformations
Paisley Museum Revamp Completes Main Construction with Public Spaces
National Gallery Extensions
Kengo Kuma National Gallery Wing Expands Painting Display
Architecturally Stunning Cultural Landmarks
OPEN Architecture Designs the Functional Sun Tower
Adaptive Design Campuses
The Eames Institute Transforms the Birkenstock Site into a Design Museum
Interconnected Public University Designs
SOM Designed Facilities for Kuwait University
Sculptural Design Exhibitions
The Pure Exhibition Reimagines Workshop Artistry with Plasterglass
Airport Terminal Galleries
The NOMAD Abu Dhabi Converts a Terminal into an Gallery Space
Garden-Topped Sunken Museums
Kengo Kuma & Associates Design the CMP Inspiration Museum
Heritage Preservation Museums
The SAKA Museum Unveils Three Immersive Balinese Exhibitions
Japan-Focused Design Exhibitions
UQAM is Hosting Built Environment: an Alternative Guide to Japan
Trio Cuboid Music Buildings
SANAA Designs a Building for the Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building
Dynamic Geometric Library Buildings
fjcstudio Designs the Yellamundie Library Building in Sydney
Compact Public Art Kiosks
The Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition Kiosks Appear as Small Structures
Ceramic Modern Houses
The Hillsborough Residence Blends Modern Design with Sculptural Ceramics
Earthy Warm Ambiant Restaurants
Marc Ange Design Studio Decorates the Modern Muse Restaurant
Sensory Museum Experiences
The Museum of Illusions Features Immersive Attractions
Sustainable Educational Architecture Projects
CURA Architekten Presents a Project in Switzerland
Architecturally Intricate Museums
STORYN Studio for Architecture Designs a Stunning Museum
Inclusive Museum Designs
The National Science and Media Museum Boasts Sound and Vision Galleries
West African Design Shows
Design in West Africa: Unity in Multiplicity is on at Palais de Lomé
Modern Dark Tonal Homes
Texas Residence Highlights Moody Tones in a Refined Mid-Century Design
Immersive Educational Museum Experiences
The National Animation Museum and IndieCade Partner
Futuristic Museum Exhibitions
The Unnatural History Museum of Singapore Shows Mechanical Creatures
Elevated Budget-Friendly Hotel Designs
Ester Bruzkus Architekten Designs Münster Ibis Budget Hotel
Cancer Care Architecture
Maggie’s Architecture That Cares Exhibition Highlights Healing Design
Protein-Inspired Architecture
Folded Protein Molecule Research & Exhibition Rethinks Structure
Emirati-Inspired Towers
The Symphony Tower Introduces a Woven Façade to Dubai’s Skyline
Color-Shifting Art Museums
Team BLDG Designs the The Quartet – Songzhuang Z Museum
Village-Like Museum Complexes
The Lost Shtetl Jewish Museum is by Lahdelma & Mahlamäki
Ancient Gymnasium-Inspired Residential Buildings
Triptyque and Architects Office Build AGE360
Glowing Sphere Art Pavilions
RAU Architects and Tellart Preset the Netherlands Pavilion
Multicultural Bright Historic Museums
MAD Architects Designst he Fenix Project in Rotterdam
Upgraded Experiential Museum Experiences
Museum of Ice Cream Undergoes Significant Renovations
Curvaceous Artful Play Pavilions
Peter Cook Designs the Play Pavilion for the Serpentine Gallery
Artful Meditative Sculptural Caves
Antony Gormley Presents the Drawing on Space Exhibition
Rammed Earth Galleries
The Museum Ehrhardt by Kéré Architecture in Plüschow, Germany
Vibrant Artistic Exhibitions
Takashi Murakami Japonisme Show Opens at Kaikai Kiki Gallery Tokyo
Enigmatic Graffiti Incidents
Toronto's Museum of New Calls Attention to Mystery Graffiti
Cost-Conscious Installation Competitions
The Tallinn Architecture Biennale Debuts Budget Bougie
Futuristic Cultural Spaces
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts Blends Form with Civic Imagination
Exploratory Architectural Projects
The Polish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is Thought-Provoking
Contemporary Office Design
The Rock Capital Warsaw Office Highlights Art in a Refined Workplace
Segmented Lightflow Art Pavilions
Marine Tabassum Creates a Capsule in Time Pavilion
Textile Pattern Showcasings
The IKEA Museum: Magical Patterns Installation opens in Scotland
Responsive Light Museums
teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi Turns Environment into Evolving Digital Art
Curvaceous Restaurant Interiors
4SPACE Boasts an Extraordinary Cultural & Architectural Statement
Modern Interpreted English Homes
Threefold Architects Designs the Eight Gables Home
Architectural Library Furniture
The Herzog & De Meuron Reading Nooks for Own Furniture Tokyo
Geometric Jewelry Architecture
Nikos Koulis Boutique Interior Look Nods to Its Sculptural Jewelry
Modern Embassy Conversions
The Rosewood Chancery Hotel Reimagines London’s Former US Embassy
Sculptural Gallery Art Exhibitions
Kennedy Yanko Presents Two New Galleries in NYC
Modern Football Museum Headquarters
Arena Liga Portugal blends Various Amenities in Porto
Sculptural Hostel Designs
VMA Design Studio Presents the Stunning Double B Hostel
Forested Concrete Pavilions
Miel Pavilion by Pezo Von Ellrichshausen Highlights Honey Processing
Restored Retail Interiors
The New MoMA Design Store SoHo Shows a Revamped Historic Structure
Craftsmanship-Focused Design Exhibits
August Sandgren & Origin Made Presented the Maker's Gallery
Timber Heritage Museums
The Museum Wegner by Cobe Honours Hans J. Wegner’s Legacy in Tønder
Historic Home Museums
The Museo Casa Kahlo Opens a Restored Family Residence to the Public
Sophisticated Government Office Designs
Agata Kurzela Tackles a Heritage Building in Abu Dhabi
Lakeside Modern Art Museums
David Chipperfield Architects Designs the Muzej Lah in Slovenia
Visitor Centre Architecture
Ightham Mote Visitor Centre by Reed Watts Architects is a New Space
Architecture-Focused Design Exhibits
Blouin Orzes Architectes Participate in Time Space Existence
Migration-Focused Art Exhibitions
The Sun Valley Museum of Art Presents a New Exhibition
Captivating Viewpoint-Integrated Exhibitions
MVRDV Designs the Portlantis Exhibition Center
Education Architecture Expansions
Rainbow International School Extends with Nature Spatial Design
Spring-Welcoming Art Installations
DRIFT's Latest Presentation is the Meadow Exhibition
Time Capsule Pavilions
America 250: Time Capsule is a Museum Pavilion by Foster + Partners
Home-Transformed Art Museums
Studio Kukkapuro is Being Transformed from Home to Museum
Stone Building Auditoriums
The Centre De Congrès Fuses Sculpture with Immersive Color and Light
Ceramic Vault Structures
The Muqarnas Pavilion Shows a Modular Approach to Vaulted Form
Modernist Modern Retreats
General Assembly revives 1960s Hamptons villa with coastal modernism
Visually Striking Athletics Centers
NAPUR Architect Designs the National Athletics Center
National Cultural Museums
Foster + Partners' Zayed National Museum Roots Saadiyat Culture District
Traditional Sailing-Inspired Pavilions
Kengo Kuma and Team Design From the Coastline We Progress
Culture-Celebrating Museum Experiences
The cs Transitioning
Brutalist Hotel Transformation
Fairmont Golden Prague Alters a 70s Space into a Holistic Hotel
Sculptural Cultural Hubs
AYDC Public Art Centre by Atelier XI Integrates Nature, Art, & Community
Former Embassy Showrooms
Temp Project Renovates a Former Embassy Building into Retail Interior
Art Museum Architecture
The Xiao Feng Art Museum is a Sculptural Concrete Building in China
Travel-Themed Fractured Mirrors
Baggage Claim Mirrors Capture Airport Carousel in Layered Glass
Ribbon-Like Dynamic Structures
Zaha Hadid Presents the Capital International Exhibition Space
Heritage Reform Museums
The Jadids’ Legacy Museum by Lina Ghotmeh Honours Jadidism Heritage
Pavilion-Style Art Homes
Casa Galeria by BLOCO Architects Merges Living and Gallery Space
Tree-Lined Striking Modern Residences
Palette Architecture Designs the Shift House in New York
Desert-Inspired Art Museums
Las Vegas Museum of Art is a Cultural Project by Kéré Architecture
Desert Cultural Landmarks
Al Ain Museum by Dabbagh Architects Anchors Heritage and Landscape
Cultural Green Libraries
The Taichung Green Museumbrary by SANAA Weaves Architecture and Nature
Sun-Inspired Disc-Topped Museums
SMAR Architecture Studio Designs the Science Island Museum
Interactive Public Pavilions
The Radius Transformation Pavilion Lets Visitors Shape Space
Photograph-Centric Museums
Jadriv Architektur & 1990uao Design the Photography Seoul Museum of Art
Reflective Museum Conversion
The Hangzhou Empathy Museum is Transformed from an Abandoned Building
Building-Nestled Compact Cafes
A Triangular Prism Chapel Cafe Creates Calm in Bucharest
Environmentally Harmonious Museums
Tadao Ando Designs the Naoshima New Museum of Art
Thoughtfully Contemporary Museum Designs
Innauer-Matt Architekten Designs the Museum Bezau
Natural History Museums
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi Opens in the Saadiyat Cultural District
Textured Glass Landmarks
Helsinki Design and Architecture Museum Designed as Clear Public Pavilion
Earthened Architecture Pavilions
Khalil Morad El Ghilali & El Mehdi Belyasmine Design a Pavilion
Museum Visit Organizers
MuseoTrack Helps You Discover, Track, and Plan Dutch Museum Visits Easily
Cultural Exhibition Spaces
Espace Gabrielle Chanel by Kazunari Sakamoto Blends Art and Heritage
Community Western Museums
Hga’s Jackson Hole History Museum Blends Western Character
Old Mine Tunnel-Integrated Museums
Atelier XÜK Integrates Old Mine Tunnels into a Chinese Museum
Park Library Museums
The Taichung Green Museumbrary Blends Library and Art Museum in Taiwan
Positive Sensual Miami Museums
Snøhetta Designs the Second Museum of Sex in a Warehouse
Wave-Inspired Civic Halls
The Sail Congress Centre in Big Normandy Curves into Public Architecture
Museum-Nestled Tokyo Offices
I IN Updates the Reception Lounge in Museum Tower Kyobashi
Arched Garden-Topped Cultural Centers
Atelier Apeiron Creates the Hengqin Culture and Art Complex
National Park Visitor Centers
Arkís Architects Designs an Icelandic National Park Visitor Center
Evocative Mid-Century Stores
The House of Nikos Koulis Athens Boasts Sleek Architectural Gesture
Commercial-Transformed Artful Galleries
New Affiliates Designs the Canyon Museum Space