Museums and Libraries: The Latest Architecture and News

A collaborative work by Studio Zec + ahA + Filter, The Siege of Sarajevo Museum – The Art of Living 1992-1996 project is launching a new way of interacting and learning about the phenomenon of the Siege of Sarajevo. Regarding urban survival, Sarajevo has become a powerful symbol and a lesson for current and future generations. The museum will be a unique depository of human knowledge – where human ingenuity, creativity and intelligence will be captured amidst the urban post-cataclysmic realm. It is a heritage snap-shot of faces and voices that have shaped the longest siege in the modern history of mankind. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The project developed by RTA-Office belongs to a large masterplan that includes three different museum buildings surrounded by a big green area. The Anhui Provincial Paleontological Fossils Museum and the Anhui Provincial New Museum are already built. RTA-Office was involved in the design of the third one, the Anhui Provincial Art Museum. Located in a new politic and cultural district in Heifei, China, the new building will occupy the southwest corner of the park. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Architect: Kris Yao | Artech Architects Location: Yilan County, Taiwan Clients: Yilan County Government Design Team: Glen Lu, Hua-Yi Chang, Fei-Chun Ying, Chih-Hao Chiang, Shun-Hui Chen, Tien-Kai Yang, Chii-Chang Jong, Christina Tseng, Lei Wang, Nina Yu, Jun-Ren Chou, Tien-Yu Lo Site Area: 39,426 sqm Total Floor Area: 12,472.74 sqm Completion: March 2010 Photographs: Jeffrey Cheng, Chi-Yi Chang

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David Chipperfield, Stirling Prize-winning architect and director of the 13th international Venice Biennale, has been commissioned by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (PCHF) to renovate the Neue National Gallery. The 20th century icon was designed by the legendary Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who celebrated his 126th birthday this week.

Hermann Parzinger, president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, said: “With David Chipperfield, I know this icon of modern architecture in the best hands. In working with him on the Museum Island, I learned the sensitivity in dealing with the architectural heritage and the conceptual clarity of his approach is greatly appreciated.”

We have been covering the progress of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture over the last several months, our most recent being President Obama’s speech at the ceremony for the official ground breaking. Adjaye Associates recently shared with us some insight into the inspiration for the design and its grounding principles. We also have several new perspective renders illustrating the internal experience. More details after the break.

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