These majestic museum structures are some beautiful examples of how modern day architects are using bold, futuristic designs to showcase cultural centres and historical buildings in a much more engaging manner.
While museums are often thought of as being boring or mundane, these majestic structures are here to prove that these educational spaces can indeed be just as modern and architecturally magnificent as any other structural space. A creative way to engage and attract new people to these buildings, these majestic museum structures are definitely allowing a whole new generation of individuals the opportunity to appreciate history and culture.
From graphic novel galleries to artistic outdoor museums, these creative structures are demonstrating that a contemporary exterior design can profoundly impact how people perceive that building.
50 Majestic Museum Structures
From Futuristic Historical Hubs to Indoor Forest Museums:
Tana Makmanee — Nov 7, 2013 — Art & Design
50
Glass Monument Museums
The Salvador Dali Museum is a Piece of Architecture with Many Mediums
49
Graphic Novel Galleries
The MoCCA by Alessandro Ortiz and Reid Nystrom Conceive a Built Caricature
48
Indoor Forest Museums
The Andrea Branzi Maribor Museum Takes Inspiration from the Forest
47
Sleek Spanish Galleries
The El Greco Museum Work with an Antiquated XVI Century Home
46
Bathtub-Shaped Museums
Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum Boasts a Fixture-Resembling Extension
45
Cocoon-Inspired Galleries
The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is Distinctively Designed
44
Red-Topped Museums
The D.Gallery by Point b Design is a Nature-Surrounded Art Wonder
43
Porcelain Throne Galleries
The Mr. Toilet House Toilet Museum is Now Open to the Public
42
Fibrous Skyscraping Galleries
The Omotesando Street Fashion Museum Makes a Style Statement
41
Eco Museums
San Francisco's Academy of Sciences
40
Inhabited Modernist Museums
The Lyon Housemuseum is a Literal ‘Arthouse'
39
Golden Undulated Galleries
The Islamic Art Galleries at the Louvre Museum are Covered in Curves
38
Obtrusive Orb Museums
The Ordos Museum by MAD Architects is a Spectacle On the Outside as Well
37
Drive-In Museums
China's Automobile Museum Never Makes You Get Out of the Car
36
Quilled Cultural Centers
The Soaring Structure of Foster + Partners' Zayed National Museum
35
Refreshingly Rippled Museums
The Int'l School Museum of Flamenco is Fabulously Designed
34
Obstruction-Free Museums
The Art Museum Gosta Demonstrates Spacial Innovation
33
Buried Marine Museums (UPDATE)
The Jason deCaires Taylor Underwater Sculptures are Impressive
32
Elegant Exotic Car Museums
Porsche Panache Set in New Stuttgart Showcase
31
Floating Waterfront Museums
The Astrup Fearnley Museet is Set in Oslo's Canals
30
Futuristic Historical Hubs
The Space Race Museum Memorializes the Quest to Outer Space
29
Monolithic Museums
Diller Scofidio and Renfro Design an Epic Veiled Structure
28
Interactive Museums
The Museo Archeologico Virtuale in Italy Has Virtual Floor Dust
27
Magnificent Melodic Museums
The Daeyang Gallery and House by Steven Holl is Euphonic to the Eyes
26
Pockmarked Monolithic Museums
The Zoo Basel Ozeanium Looks Like an Eroded Underwater Boulder
25
Cliff-Hanging Cantilever Museums
The Wine Museum in Lavaux by Mauro Turin Architects is Extreme
24
Secret Lair Museums
This Mountain Museum by Zaha Hadid Architechts Burrows Through a Cliff
23
Sinuous Ribbon Museums
Winding Layers of Steel Craft the Design Museum Holon
22
Futuristic Cubed Museums
The Nanjing Sifang Art Museum by Steven Holl Architects is Eye-Catching
21
Futuristic Luxury Auto Exhibits
The Ferrari Museum in Modena is Dedicated to Enzo Ferrari
20
Cyborg Snake-Like Cultural Centers
The Jeongok Prehistory Museum is Oddly Futuristic
19
Sting Ray-Inspired Floating Museums
The Pingtan Art Museum Can Only be Accessed by Bridge
18
Virtual Visual Galleries
The Adobe Museum of Digital Media Honors Talented Digital Work
17
Artistic Outdoor Museums
Brazil's ‘Inhotim' Art Zoo is a Masterpiece
16
Stark Streamlined Galleries
The Easter Sculpture Museum by Exit Architects is Sleek and Simplistic
15
Outdoor Eco-Museums
Switzerland's Tree Museum is Dedicated to Preserving Rare Trees
14
Planter-Shaped Galleries
The Taiyuan Archaeological Museum Features Pottery Formations
13
Tunneled Art Museums
The Museum Liaunig Takes Artistry Underground
12
Interactive Soccer-Themed Museums
Ajax Experience is the Next Generation of Sports Celebration
11
Multi-Color Museums
Modern Art is Somewhere Over the Rainbow at Brandhorst Museum
10
Purse-Shaped Museums
Purse Fanatics Will Go Mad for the Simone Handbag Museum
9
Monolithic Glacier Museums
The Glacarium Resembles the Very Formations it Hopes to Save
8
Temporary Scaffolding Museums
The Schaustelle Pavilion Will Be Home to Museum Installations
7
Glacier-Esque Museum Concepts
The Moscow Polytechnic Museum and Educational Centre is Icy
6
Contemporary Artist-Run Museums
Palais de Tokyo Allows Artists to Control the Space of the Museum
5
Sweet Tooth Museums
The Brendan Jamison Sugar Cube Replica of the London Tate Modern
4
Radiating Museum Redesigns
Rojkind Arquitectos Puts a Fresh Face on Mexico's National Archives
3
Curvaceous Cultural Venues
The Changsha Meixihu International Centre Boasts a Futuristic Aesthetic
2
Miniature Metropolis Museums
The National Art Museum of China by OMA Boasts Ambitious Design
1
Haute Honeycomb Museums
The Contemporary Arts Center Cordoba by Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos is Chic
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Greenery-Sheathed Architecture Offices
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Large Archeological Museum Complex
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Human Sexuality Museums
Snøhetta Designs the Museum of Sex, Featuring Galleries, a Bar, & More
Toronto Film Exhibitions
Imposter Cities Exhibition Explores Architecture & Cinematic Authenticity
Future Building Material Exhibitions
The Farrell Centre Debuts Its Inaugural Exhibition
Supermarket-Style Pavilions
Venice Architecture Biennale's Latvian Pavilion Has a Familiar Form
Opulent Saudi Dome Structures
The 'Bedayat' Structure Was Built to Celebrate the First Saudi State
Sustainable Airport Terminal Designs
This Lush Green Terminal is Powered By Renewable Energy
Futuristic Auto Micro Factories
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Public-Oriented Furniture Exhibits
Furnishing Utopia's Jean Lee Displays Furniture for Public Use
Picturesque Family Retreats
Malcolm Davis Architects Adds to This Beautiful Building
Abstract Fantasy Home Exhibitions
Fort Makers Invite Six Creatives to Design Their Dream Home
Mockup-Inspired Garden Structures
New Affiliates & Samuel Stewart-Halevy Create Testbeds
Cave-Inspired Installations
Cave Bureau Design an Installation for Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums
Qatar Museums Unveils Official Images of the Lusail Museum
Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings
Akio Isshiki Architect Overhauls an Old Wooden Building
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
Branded Design Exhibitions
The MUJI IS Exhibit is Running in New York Between May 18th & June 4th
Artful Wooden Pavilions
Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónia Designs the Orchid Pavilion
Timber Nature Reserve Towers
The 'Lookout Tower' from Robert Gutowski Architects is Sculptural
Rejuvenated Chinese Train Stations
MAD Architects Breathed New Life Into a Century-Old Station
Everchanging Water-Based Theaters
Open Architecture Designs the Yichang Grand Theater in China
Glossy Panelled Pentagonal Buildings
JM Architecture Designs the Pinwheel Building in Italy
Transparent Climate Classrooms
Forma Transforms a Century-old Glasshouse in Copenhagen
Breathtaking Library Designs
MVRDV Showcases Its Plan for a Massive Wuhan Library
Modernist Library Interiors
Superkül Renovates a Reading Room at Robarts Library
Vibrant Multi-Level Office Designs
Gensler Reimagines the Accenture Office Space in Chicago
Rejuvenated Retail Buildings
This Vietnamese Building Will Feature Lush Native Greenery
Luxury Timepiece Museums
Atelier Brueckner Designed the Musee Atelier Audemars Piguet
Water-Inspired Theatre Designs
Open Architecture Unveils Its Plans for the Yichang Grand Theatre
Virtual Pub Museums
Heineken Pub Museums Spotlight Important Cultural Locations
Curved Concrete Hotels
Atelier d’More Transforms a Two-storey Building into a Contemporary Hotel
Vibrant Museum Foyer Renovations
Studio Besau-Marguerre Transfroms Mk&g's Foyer
Perception-Challenging Art Exhibitions
Raise the Moral Studio Presents the Becoming Familiar Show
Energy-Efficient Office Buildings
This Czech Office Complex is Outfitted With Eco-Friendly Designs
Historic-Inspired Villa Hotels
Space Copenhagen Designs the Memmertsberg in Switzerland
Kilometer-Long Museums
Junya Ishigami Introduces the Zaishui Art Museum Along a Lake
Red Brick Music Schools
Colectivo C733's Music School Design is Captivating and Stunning
Socially Focused Sports Centers
MoDus Architects Reveal the Fieldhouse Sports Center in Italy
Blocky Children's Museums
UNStudio Showcases Its Design for the Children's Museum of Qatar
Architecture-Inspired Furniture Capsules
SeungBum Ma Designs the Form-Functional Archi-Furniture
Copper Shell-Enclosed Museums
Wutoqpia Lab Designs the Copper Blockhouse Space in China
Transformed Historic Bank Buildings
Ivy Studio Overhauls the Interior of a Historic Building
Bamboo-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Cultural Center Seamlessly Blends Into its Surroundings
Vaulted Glass Structure Additions
A Vaulted Roof is Added to the Domino Sugar Refinery
Rejuvenated Former Bank Buildings
This Dutch Building Now Boasts Solar Panels & Insect Hotels
Monolithic Concrete-Clad Pavilions
Alberto Campo Baeza Collaborated with Miguel Quismondo
Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
Buzz Designs the Hermit Space Yards in Beijing Park
Caterpillar-Shaped Apartment Buildings
Undecorated Developed an Eye-Catching Metal Building
Immersive Art-Technology Installations
WNDR Museum Boston Will Feature 20 Exhibitions
Landscape-Concealed Cultural Centers
The Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre Boasts a Hidden Design
Shed-Like Storage Facilities
Lahznimmo Architects Designs the Powerhouse Castle Hill
Conservation Area Monumental Townhomes
The DHaus Company Complete the Arches Row of Townhouses
Upgraded Historic Buildings
Kohn Shnier and ERA Architects Renovate a U of T Building
Viewing Box Cultural Centers
The Center for Arts & Innovation Hosts Events and Education Spaces
Rustic Ruin-Inspired Aquariums
Tatiana Bilbao Estudio Designs The Sea of Cortez Research Center
Reflective Hemispherical Theater Stages
Muoto Designs the Ball Theater to Evoke a Sense of Utopia
Tactile Gallery Buildings
AMAA Designs the Threshold and Treasure Art Gallery in Italy
Mass-Timber Children's Museums
O'Neill McVoy Architects Designs the Bronx Children's Museum
Organic Sculptural Furniture Exhibitions
Gallery Fumi Hosts the Growth + Form Exhibition in London
Ancient Construction Campus Buildings
Henning Larsen Designs a New Campus in Foroe Islands
Mirrored-Detailed Garden Cafes
IDIN Architects Designs Structures for Nana Coffee Roasters
Exposed Concrete Factory Structures
Iksoi Studio Adds a Concrete Grid to the Mallcom Factory
Optical Illusion Replica Artworks
Leandro Erlich Forms the Building in the Liberty Science Center
Greenery-Sheathed Libraries
This Library Building Features Generous Plantings Of Native Species
Generously Glazed Spiral Buildings
This Building is Inspired By Czech Glassmaking Tradition
Natural Japanese Art Galleries
Brazil's Yayoi Kusama Gallery Features a Nature-Inspired Design
Crystalline Chinese Museum Buildings
The 'Space Crystal' Building Looks Like An Otherworldly Rock
Industrial Architecture-Themed Installations
The Industrial Archaeology Series is Based on Design
Local Craft-Shown Bamboo Pavilions
AtArchitecture Designs the Northeast Pavilion for an Art Fair
Comprehensive Gallery Renovations
Carmody Groarke Releases Plans for the Dulwich Picture Gallery
Metal-Wrapped Exhibition Spaces
Trace Architecture Office Creates a Structural Steel Wrap
Energy-Efficient Museum Complexes
This Museum Uses Innovative Design to Curb Energy Consumption
Nature-Connecting Office Spaces
Hawkins\Brown Designs the Here + Now Office Buildings
Monolithic Sleek Summer Homes
Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter Creates the Vollerup Atrium Home
Revamped Monolithic Galleries
The Revamped National Portrait Gallery Emphasizes Public Space
Live-In Art Gallery Homes
Casa Galeria is a Home That Doubles as an Art Gallery
Galactic-Themed Sci-Fi Museums
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs the New Star Cloud Museum
Modular Beam-Themed Furniture
The Beam Collection by Adam Weir has a Harmonious Structure
Demountable Events Space
Andblack Design Studio Creates the Darwin Bucky Structure
Wind-Responsive Panel Pavilions
Fernanda Ahumada & FREE Design the National Biodiversity Pavilion
Inconspicuous Art Museums
Wang Chong Studio Designs a Beautifully Expressive Building
Greenery-Topped Winery Designs
This Czech Winery Complex Pays Tribute to its Green Surroundings
Brutalist Museum Restaurants
Zooco Estudio Designs a Restaurant in the Cantabrian Maritime Museum
Clustered Natural Campus Extensions
OMA Creates a Cluster of Structures for Hongik University
Minimalist Circular Churches
ARQBR Completes a Circular Church in Braslia, Brazil
Traditional Garden-Inspired Cultural Centers
Open Architecture Designs the Shanfeng Academy
Perforated Granite-Detailed Museums
The Chengdu Natural History Museum Gets a New Look
Cave-Like Discovery-Themed Centers
Studio Gang Designs the Gilder Center in Manhattan
Ice Factory-Transformed Galleries
Malik Architecture Designs the IF.BE Gallery and Event Space
Forested Residential Buildings
GAAGA Designs the Forest Bath Building Framed by Tree Trunks
Sustainable Cubic Homes
Appels Architekten Designs a New Wooden Home in Germany
Rebuilt Historic Train Stations
MAD Introduces the Train Station in the Forest in China
Contemporary Visitor Centers
In Situ Studio Boasts a Ceiling with a Cut-Out 'Hoop'
Red Concrete Exhibition Centers
Mix Architecture Designs the Red Box Exhibition Center
Opulent Opera Venues
This Saudi Opera Complex is Inspired By Traditional Mud Brick Construction
Color-Blocked Contemporary Museums
Studio Besau-Marguerre Designs the Foyer of the MK&G Museum
Kaleidoscope Vibrant Pavilions
Google's Mountain View Features a Halo Pavilion Artwork
Modern Deco Office Designs
Reflect Architecture Designs the NewGen Office with Contemporary Detail
Latticed-Steel Transport Hub Columns
Tremend Designs the Metropolitan Station in Lublin
Musical-Themed Kinetic Structures
Daily tous les jours Designs the Daydreamer Structure
Modern Museum Versatile Cafes
Tate Modern Unveils a Corner Cafe Designed by Holland Harvey
Spine-Based Central Design Buildings
Foster + Partners Designs the Hangzhou Center
Museum-Replicating Puzzle Sets
LEGO Icons Presents the New Natural History Museum Set
Scientific Communal Museums
Stefano Boeri Architetti Designs the Museum of Technology in Xi'an
Tree-Like Library Spaces
Studio Hinge Presents the Forest of Knowledge Library Design
Sculptural Museum Expansions
Diller Scofidio + Renfro Unveil Images of the Broad's Expansion
Energy-Efficient Headquarter Buildings
The New 'Bench' Building Prioritizes Sustainable Design
Modular Tent Classroom Designs
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs a Series of Classrooms for Refugees
Swept Roof Underground Museums
Wutopia Lab Designs the Roof of the Deep Time Palace in China
Multi-Faith Spiritual Temples
James Gorst Architects Designs a Non-Denominational Temple
Brick Volume Cylindrical Mausoleums
Sthapotik Designs the Shah Muhammad Mohshin Khan Mausoleum
Atrium Stacked Toronto Courthouses
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Creates a Justice Building
Glass-Lined Towering Libraries
Snøhetta Designs the Beijing City Library Located in China
Mass-Timber Transport Hubs
BIG and A+ Architecture Build the Marengo Multimodal Transport Hub
Mirrored Panel Tropical Gardens
Research Artistic Design + Architecture Designs the Frame Garden
Basketry-Informed University Facades
Heatherwick Studio Designs a Building for Universidad Ean
Upcoming Architectural Floating Parks
MAST Designs the New Centroparco on a Sand Quarry
Architectural Pottery Museums
1+1>2 Architects Designs the Bat Trang Pottery Museum
Chinese Medicine Circular Museums
Muda Architects Completes the Tianfu Museum of Chinese Medicine
Renovated Retro Ski Lodges
Hetedik Műterem and Studio Konstella Extend the Normafa Ski Lodge
Inuit-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Building Takes Design Cues From Snowdrift Patterns
Nomadic Community-Themed Pavilions
Joar Nango Designs Girjegumpi: The Sámi Architecture Library
Barrel Vault-Topped Metro Stations
KA Architecture Studio Designs the Jahad Metro Plaza
Translucent Chinese Concert Halls
This Venue Boasts a Glowing Aesthetic & Pleasant Acoustics
Water Flow-Inspired Art Buildings
MAD Designs the Waterfront Nanhai Arts Center in Guangdong
Slaugherhouse-Transformed Unique Museums
Cave Bureau Creates the Anthropocene Museum 9.0
Repurposed Imperfection-Embraced Buildings
Civic Architects & VDNVP Elevate a Series of Workspaces
Dynamic Canadian Museum Expansions
Diamond Schmitt Architects Expands the New Brunswick Museum
Football History Artful Exhibtions
The FIFA Museum Presents Designing the Beautiful Game
Geometric Three-Story Museum Expansions
The Álvaro Siza Wing is a New Extension in Serralves
Distinctive Airlifted Structures
Arête Architects and Makers Fabrication Design the Karka Tower
Interfaith Family House Complexes
Adjaye Associates Designs the Abrahamic Family House
Computer Evolution Museums
Evolution Museum Explores Iconic Computers Through History