frank gehry: biomuseum in panama nearing completion
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first image
'biomuseum' by frank gehry, panama city, panama
image © victoria murillo
image courtesy of biomuseo
marking his first project in latin america, the 'biomuseum' by canadian-born architect frank gehry aims to provide a scientific center
to document and display the rich cultures of ocean and land species that originated in the panamanian isthmus that had a large
impact on global biodiversity. funded by the amador foundation, backed by the government, with scientific support by the smithsonian
institute and the university of panama, the project carries a great social importance for the country and region.
the 4000 m2 footprint will contain eight permanent galleries designed by bruce mau, a public atrium, temporary exhibition spaces,
a store, cafeteria, exterior exhibits and a botanical garden designed by edwina von gal. many of the structural elements will also
become educational points, with a semi-interior colonnade of 16 pilars that will describe mankind's effect on the panamanian ecosystem,
two large aquariums that host the different aquatic species in the caribbean and pacific oceans. the panamarama, a three-storey
space covered in 14 screens will create an audiovisual experience for the visitor, placing them directly into a digital history environment.
the structure is based around thick concrete column trees with angular metal branches that hold up various metal-plated canopies
resembling an array of colored curved and folded geometries, enveloped in large curtain walls.
image courtesy of biomuseo
image © victoria murillo
image courtesy of biomuseo
image © victoria murillo
image © victoria murillo
image courtesy of biomuseo
image courtesy of biomuseo
image © victoria murillo
image courtesy of biomuseo
image © victoria murillo
image courtesy of biomuseo
image © victoria murillo
image courtesy of biomuseo
image © victoria murillo
image courtesy of biomuseo
image © victoria murillo
roof construction
image © victoria murillo
image courtesy of biomuseo
la huella humana
image courtesy of biomuseo
la huella humana
image courtesy of biomuseo
oceanos divididos
image courtesy of biomuseo
biodiversity gallery
image courtesy of biomuseo
panamarama
image courtesy of biomuseo
the grand exchange
image courtesy of biomuseo
the grand exchange
image courtesy of biomuseo
the bridge arises
image courtesy of biomuseo
model
image courtesy of biomuseo
model
image courtesy of biomuseo
model
image courtesy of biomuseo
model
image courtesy of biomuseo
It looks like it wouldn\’t be out of place on the Jersey shore after Hurricane Sandy.
lol
interesting, but so non-bio, so non-organic. is it to inspire building with trash?
Can Frankie not make up his mind what materials to use?
It would have been so much better if the orange bit had been a foot higher, and the red roof elements rotated about 5 degrees; and the yellow colour a little more lemony; and maybe the doors less recangular …..
who knows if this is good design or garbage?
Poor Panama, they’re victims of money and people who come with it to do nasty things, The interiors look more decent than the volume itself, I’ve seen it (just outside of course) when I went to Panama and it looks horrible in that caribbean paradise.
http://ditmasparkcorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/The_Fry_Residence-533×399.jpg
What is it a museum of, squatter houses?
The hurricane was terrible!!!
You just don\’t get it.
The whole secret is quite simple: PEYOTE…
But seriously, just think how amazing it will feel to be inside this structure during a really good tropical rainstorm… With rivers of water running off of all of those undulating rooflines? WOW– I mean, AY CARUMBA!– my friends!!!
Hard to understand perhaps because not too many people travel to the tropics of Latin America. My mom was born in the US Canal Zone in Panama, so I\’ve done a bit of exploring in the region. All I can say is Gehry obviously understands not only the geography and the weather, but the people and their vibrant past and present culture as well.
My sincere applause.
so many critics… yet they don’t see something so exciting: gehry is finally going back to his roots – if you look at this structure, it resembles more his early (post-mall designs) works in the late 70s and early 80s. his house in california for example, those pre-CATIA designs. i am, for one, very impressed and happy to see him going back to his most exciting designs.
chapeau!!
Architects need like artist to evolve beyond past project designs. This looks like much of the same as far as the exerior of the building appears. The interior I am not critiquing. For a tropical paradise far more shapes taken from nature in my opinion should have been considered. Colors, patinas and surface treatments and materials would have softened the overal appearance of the structure making it less “in your face”. Going back to your roots does not neccessary translate into a design that embraces the place of the clients roots. This design bekons me not to travel to the country to see this piece of work. It belongs in North America were we continue to embrace, steel,stainless,concrete and crumpled paper roof profiles.
What a pile of irrational junk!
soooooo many joints!!!!!!
es un proyecto feo y caotico…un leguaje de egocentrismo saturado de gehry-
This is like smoke screen, like somebody is trying to hide lack of design capabilities, even as sculpture is not descent.
who needs another crash?
I want to see where the water goes during a typical Panamanian rain storm.
The king has no clothes on….
it looks to me pile of debries in construction site ,as an architect he should know that function creates the form not vice versa, he is a formalist,
I visited Panama 3 years ago and they were on the roof structure…it looks like there is still a lot to go. How long will it take to finish?? Not to mention how much will the overall cost be?