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A 9,000-square meter museum designed by Japanese firm Kengo Kuma and Associates will soon open in Manila.
The Museum of Indigenous Knowledge will feature history exhibitions from the Philippines’ Neolithic period to allow visitors to experience the country’s cultural heritage.
At the center of the museum is an artificial ravine that is shaped like a hollowed-out rock. With waterfalls, ponds and tropical plants growing around the edge and climbing up a lattice covering the exterior of the structure, the museum’s one-of-a-kind design attempts to bring nature into the urban setting.
“Based on its concept, we aim to build a natural and organic museum by combining water and green in the cave-shaped space, contrary to the image of museums as closed boxes. It is also an attempt to revive cohabitation of nature and history in the urban environment.”
Galleries will be located around the edge of the museum’s central feature on the four partial floors above while a restaurant and a shop will be located beside the ravine on the building’s ground floor. A temporary exhibition space as well as a car park will be situated in the basement.
Woven-texture surfaces and glass balustrades will line the interior galleries and escalator wells.
Featured image credits to Dezeen.
