Museum of Nature and Science / Morphosis

By — Filed under: Architecture News ,Educational ,Museums and Libraries , , , ,
 

12394_2_MNS3big

A few days ago, Thom Mayne unveiled his $185 million museum design for the Perot at Victory Park in , which is set for groundbreaking later this fall.  ”As instruments of education and social change, museums have the potential to shape our understanding of ourselves and the world in which we live…As our global environment faces ever more critical challenges, a broader understanding of the interdependence of natural systems is becoming more essential to our survival and evolution. Museums dedicated to nature and science play a key role in expanding our understanding of these complex systems,” explained Mayne.

More about the museum after the break.

Resting on a 4.7 acre site and providing 180,000 sqf of display space in its 14 story high structure, the new facility is designed to engage all visitors by invigorating their minds and ultimately “broaden individuals’ and society’s understanding of nature and science.”

12394_1_MNS1big

As visitors approach the museum, they are led through two native Texas ecologies,  a forest of large native canopy trees and a terrace of native desert xeriscaping.   These two ecologies intersect, marking a large plaza.  The  landscaped roof, an acre featuring several native plants, seems to lift up and draw visitors through a compressed space into the more expansive entry lobby.  Once in the lobby, visitors are confronted with one of Mayne’s signature design features, a 54-foot continuous-flow escalator than is contained in a 150-foot tube-like structure.  These escalators bring visitors up the sky-lit atrium to the uppermost level of the museum where a fully glazed balcony stretches high above the city, providing breathtaking views of downtown Dallas.

12394_3_MNS2big

Once at the top, a clockwise spiral path brings visitors past the display areas.  ”This dynamic spatial procession creates a visceral experience that engages visitors and establishes an immediate connection the the immersive architectural and natural environment of the museum,” explained Mayne.

The museum was conceived as a public building that would become a part of Dallas and help activate the city.  ”By integrating architecture, nature and technoloy, the building demonstrates scientific principles and stimulates curiosity in our natural surroundings,” added Mayne.

As seen on World Architecture News.

 
 
Thumb up Thumb down 0
mrfidalgo says:

Reading: "Museum of Nature and Science / Morphosis | ArchDaily" (http://twitthis.com/py4t5s)

 
# September 20, 2009 at 20:42
Thumb up Thumb down 0

Museum of Nature and Science / Morphosis:
A few days ago, Thom Mayne unveiled his $185 million museum design fo.. http://bit.ly/12j71u

 
# September 20, 2009 at 21:13
Thumb up Thumb down 0

Architecture #Architecture: Museum of Nature and Science / Morphosis… http://bit.ly/1K8LiW

 
# September 20, 2009 at 21:47
Thumb up Thumb down 0

…cont) http://bit.ly/NK6Z8

 
# September 20, 2009 at 22:08
Thumb up Thumb down 0

Museum of Nature and Science / Morphosis:
A few days ago, Thom Mayne unveiled his $185 million museum design fo.. http://bit.ly/12j71u

 
# September 20, 2009 at 22:13
Thumb up Thumb down 0
Mara Salas says:

RT @archdaily: Museum of Nature and Science / Morphosis http://bit.ly/ynjUJ

 
# September 20, 2009 at 23:22
Thumb up Thumb down 0
4life says:

Mmmm…. more drawings will be helpful….

 
# September 20, 2009 at 23:30
Thumb up Thumb down 0
jay says:

go to morphopedia.. there’s a whole bunch

 
# September 20, 2009 at 23:35
Thumb up Thumb down 0

Dallas gets interesting, but still wish Snøhetta had gotten this one: RT @archdaily Museum of Nature/Science, Morphosis http://bit.ly/ynjUJ

 
# September 21, 2009 at 03:02
Thumb up Thumb down 0
that's what she says:

im just interested in the first pic…after that, lost it

 
# September 21, 2009 at 10:06
Thumb up Thumb down 0

IT will be a great thing when finished I guess. The cuts in the volume remind me a bit if the holocaust museum in Berlin, but other than that the gray stone exterior (I imagine it is) seems a bit more down to earth. We’ll see…

 
# September 21, 2009 at 15:50
Thumb up Thumb down 0
Sissie says:

the details are really inspiring~

 
# September 21, 2009 at 19:29
Thumb up Thumb down 0
Peter says:

Technocratic architecture of the future.

 
# September 22, 2009 at 20:13
Thumb up Thumb down 0
tomnguyen says:

need more specific images of space.

 
# September 30, 2009 at 23:49

Leave a Reply »

 

Latest Comments »

丫丫solkee on Use white, or very white
So cute~~~~!!!!!![+]
...[+]
Love it![+]
Sergio Marquez on Pier+ / AECOM and BIG
Big really likes the contour tool…[+]
@brb001: Do not be so hard on them, they do a good job and are not...[+]

Upcoming Architecture Events »

got events? invite us! click here

Architecture Books & Magazines »

Mark Magazine #33

Mark Magazine #33

We recently received the newest edition of Mark Magazine. Number 33 offers in depth looks of several  projects ArchDaily has previously featured such as: Sunset Chapel by BNKR Arquitectura, iGuzzini Illuminazione Spain Headquarters by MiAS Arquitectes, Villa Geldrop by Hofman Dujardin…

 

Combinatory Urbanism: The Complex Behavior of Collective Form

Combinatory Urbanism: The Complex Behavior of Collective Form

Thom Mayne recently sent us his latest book, Combinatory Urbanism: The Complex Behavior of Collective Form.  MIT Professor of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture, Alan Berger, hails this book as “nothing short of a tour de force and should be…

 

Cebra Files 02

Cebra Files 02

We recently received a monograph of Cebra’s work. This young firm is energetic, pushes the boundaries, goes after competitions, and has been successful in pushing many projects into reality. We are fan their work and have featured Cebra 16…

 

Our partners »

AD on iPad via Pulse

Browse by date »

Browse by category »

Friends »