SPOTLIGHTING THE TOP 10 museums and galleries OF 2023

In 2023, numerous highly anticipated museums and galleries debuted worldwide, introducing spaces for the exchange and proliferation of knowledge, inspiration, and artistic innovation. From MAD Architect’s spiraling Fenix Museum of Migration in Rotterdam to Heatherwick Studio’s Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo, and Mario Cucinella’s cavernous interiors for the Luigi Rovati Foundation in Milan, our selection for the BIG museum and gallery stories of the year features bold architectural designs that aim to attract a global audience, each project responding to its specific brief and location. Continue reading to discover more about the TOP 10 picks featured on designboom in 2023.

MAD ARCHITECTS’ SPIRALING FENIX MUSEUM OF MIGRATION IN ROTTERDAM TO OPEN IN 2025

visualizations by MAD Architects

MAD Architects‘ first cultural project in Europe, the Fenix Museum of Migration, has broken ground in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The project includes the renovation of the Fenix warehouse, built in 1923, which is located on the city’s Katendrecht Peninsula, an important port of immigration in European history. The striking centerpiece staircase of the intervention, will extend from the ground and form an observation deck at the top, while visitors will take in stunning views across Rotterdam and the River Maas. Inside, the museum will feature expansive gallery spaces across two floors, showcasing its art and historical collection.

ZHA’S CHENGDU SCIENCE FICTION MUSEUM OPENS TO HOST THE WORLDCON & HUGO AWARDS IN CHINA

all visuals by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), © ATCHAIN

The long-anticipated Chengdu Science Fiction Museum by Zaha Hadid Architects has recently opened its doors by hosting the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and the prestigious Hugo Awards, representing a milestone for both the city of Chengdu and the global science fiction community. Located in the heart of Chengdu’s Pidu District, the museum pays tribute to the city’s rich legacy of nurturing renowned Chinese science fiction authors for over five decades. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has emerged as a vibrant hub of scientific innovation and research, with a population exceeding 20 million residents. The Chengdu Science Fiction Museum is situated within the Science & Innovation New City, nestled alongside the picturesque Jingrong Lake.

MVRDV’S PYRAMID OF TIRANA IN PICTURES: INSIDE ALBANIA’S NEWLY-RENOVATED BRUTALIST LANDMARK

all images © Ossip van Duivenbode

Inaugurated earlier this year in the Albanian capital, MVRDV’s renovated Pyramid of Tirana has opened to the public as a new cultural hub. The brutalist landmark originally served as a museum dedicated to the communist dictator Enver Hoxh, and later stood as a ghosted architecture that filled people with mixed emotions. Despite its bittersweet past, the structure witnessed a dramatic transformation today. MVRDV reimagines its concrete structure as an open sculpture in a new park, home to an ensemble of colorful boxes scattered in and around the original building that now house cafés, studios, workshops, start-up offices, incubators, festivals, and classrooms where Albanian youth will learn various technology subjects for free.

STUDIO GANG SCULPTS THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM’S NEW WING LIKE AN ERODED CANYON

image © Iwan Baan | @iwanbaan

The American Museum of Natural History’s latest addition, the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation, is now complete in New York City with architecture by Studio Gang. The otherworldly space is a groundbreaking architectural achievement, its organic surfaces inspired by geological landforms carved by wind and water — an ‘innie’ building drawing visitors inside and inspiring exploration. The Gilder Center covers 230,000-square-feet and creates thirty-three connections among ten museum buildings to link the entire campus. The center embodies the Natural History Museum’s mission of science and education by introducing innovative exhibitions, world-class research facilities, and next-generation classrooms.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY IN LONDON WELCOMES VISITORS TO ITS FULLY REFURBISHED SPACE

image © Olivier Hess

Originally built in 1896, the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in London has undergone a complete transformation by Jamie Fobert Architects, alongside heritage architects Purcell. The project includes the complete refurbishment of the building, which is considered to be the first portrait gallery in the world. The renewal involves several architectural interventions, such as a new public forecourt, an inviting entry hall, and a dynamic learning center. Hidden areas have been opened up, and a new accessible entrance has been created, reorienting the building towards the city and connecting it with the vibrant area of London.

HEATHERWICK STUDIO’S AZABUDAI HILLS GALLERY IN TOKYO OPENS WITH OLAFUR ELIASSON EXHIBITION

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image © Raquel Diniz

A new district designed by Heatherwick Studio, known as Azabudai Hills, has recently opened in the heart of Tokyo. Azabudai Hills Gallery, the core cultural facility of the new mixed-used development by Heatherwick Studio in central Tokyo, celebrates its opening with an exhibition by Olafur Eliasson. The Azabudai Hills Gallery, along with the Mori Building and other various public art initiatives inside the new district, aims to promote a museum-like environment where art and culture unite. Thomas Heatherwick’s design encourages purposeful connections between commuters, residents, and the public. Within this neighborhood, a green oasis filled with trees, flowers, and water features complements meandering routes and walkable rooftop slopes that invite exploration and informal gatherings.

A LOOK INSIDE MARIO CUCINELLA’S CAVERNOUS INTERIORS FOR LUIGI ROVATI FOUNDATION IN MILAN

image by Duccio Malagamba

In the autumn of 2022, Mario Cucinella Architects (MCA) unveiled their design for the new art museum of the Luigi Rovati Foundation in Milan. The design introduced a series of cavernous underground galleries, carefully crafted to showcase both Etruscan and contemporary art. Now, nearly two years later, the museum stands as an open and hybrid space that breathes culture into the vibrant Italian city. The interior encompasses diverse spaces spread across various floors, each catering to different purposes. The ground level accommodates the entrance hall, bookshop, ticket office, and a coffee bar/bistro. The mezzanine level houses the administrative offices of the Luigi Rovati Foundation. On the main floor, visitors can explore museum rooms displaying contemporary art exhibitions. The second floor is dedicated to hosting events and temporary exhibitions, providing a dynamic experience for patrons. Finally, the third floor houses a restaurant.

NERI&HU CRAFTS QUIJANG MUSEUM EXTENSION AS A LUMINOUS BEACON IN XI’AN, CHINA

image by Studio Fang

Neri&Hu revealed this year its newly completed extension to the Quijang Museum of Fine Arts in Xi’an, China. The project marks a new threshold to the Datang Everbright City just south of the city’s renowned Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Following the client’s request, the architects introduced a new architectural symbol at the East Entry of the existing museum. Neri&Hu harnesses the concept of a glowing lantern to house commercial and museum programming while standing as an illuminated beacon for the neighborhood. While the surrounding area is already populated by galleries, the design of the new building has been carefully considered to minimize its impact. The result of this is a circular form, which allows for a glimpse of the rooftop landscape from any space on the second floor and above.

OPEN ARCHITECTURE ENVISIONS A DIGITAL SPACE MUSEUM AND SEASIDE LIBRARY IN YANTAI, CHINA

render by OPEN Architecture

OPEN Architecture has unveiled Space Crystals, a digital space museum and experience center in Yantai, China. The structure resembles an extraterrestrial-looking object that landed mysteriously in the clearing of a seaside park. Situated at an oval clearing of a woody seaside park, the center is dedicated to deciphering the mysteries of the universe for the public. Visitors catch glimpses of an unusual black object perched upslope of a grassy spot through the gaps between trees. Shrouded with a mystical sheen (photovoltaic glass), its long axis points toward the ocean and the sky, seemingly ready to leap from Earth to Space.

KENGO KUMA’S ‘KIKI’S MUSEUM OF LITERATURE’ IN TOKYO

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The newly inaugurated Edogawa City Eiko Kadono Museum of Children’s Literature, also recognized as the ‘Kiki’s Museum of Literature,’ crafted by Kengo Kuma and Associates, has recently opened its doors to the public. Paying homage to author Eiko Kadono, the design team conceptualized a hilltop museum dedicated to children‘s literature, resembling a village-like structure with whimsical interiors. Distinguished by its playful pink and white geometrical design, the museum offers a panoramic view of Nagisa Park in Edogawa City, Tokyo. Visitors across all ages are invited to experience the world of Eiko Kadono, who famously authored ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service,’ a story which, in 1989, inspired Studio Ghibli’s film adaptation directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

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