Museums are unique, inviting, mysterious, and full of knowledge. Each museum around the world has something valuable to offer. Many of these museums are known for their building designs. For instance, the Ruskinian Gothic style of The Metropolitan Museum in New York is a beautiful ode to the creative genius of the architects. The Met Museum today is one of the biggest and finest museums around the world.
Many museums have adapted themselves to the changing needs of society. These institutions housing art, history, and culture have undergone renovation and reconstruction to become more inclusive, safe, and environmentally conscious.
Although museums have made significant efforts to bridge gaps between communities and preserve knowledge and culture in tangible and intangible forms, they face an imminent threat- climate change.
Today, the world is pressed for time and under pressure to rethink its choices and make environmentally conscious decisions. Sustainable development with the implementation of the Green Growth Model will not stop economic progress and help countries reach their environmental goals.
Leveraging the use of AI and technology while reducing emissions is crucial to achieving the net zero target. But we often overlook how cities can be transformed into better spaces socially and environmentally if we adopt designs that are sustainable and original.
Architecture is art reflected in buildings. Since the Industrial Revolution, architectural styles have evolved to become more simple and minimalist. However, the tragedy of architecture today remains in the fact that all buildings look alike. They may be beautiful inside, but outside, they are boxes stacked neatly on each other, standing neatly in line in our concrete jungles.
However, buildings can be designed in a way that they adopt techniques which reflect sustainable choices. At times like these, it is best to revisit ancient knowledge rooted in indigenous practices. Long before we trapped ourselves in concrete jungles, we lived harmoniously with nature. Many communities continue to do so. Ancient indigenous wisdom and architectural knowledge can be adopted by planners, architects, and designers.
Indigenous people do not go out of their way to procure materials not available to them in their surroundings. But they leverage the available material to its highest potential and use natural elements to work in their favour. For instance, instead of having many lights inside a museum, spaces can be designed with long windows that allow natural light to flood the room. Instead of installing numerous light fixtures, energy can be conserved by letting most of the natural light come in. Furthermore, museum complexes can be designed to accommodate natural spaces in the centre. A terrarium set-up will not only elevate the beauty of the museums but also give the audience a chance to interact with nature and observe many natural processes.
Instead of designing a museum that is essentially closed off from all sides and only has two points of entry and exit, it is always good to have some pockets of natural spaces to break the monotony of walls and glasses. Another solution would be to employ biomimetic designs that interact with nature. They are sustainable and cost-efficient because the focus is more on the shape of the structure than on the material used. Therefore, by creating patterns that focus more on the effectiveness of the design to ensure it is more sustainable and makes ample use of natural elements. Translating a biomimetic design idea to a structure can be a tricky challenge and time-consuming. But the investment is worth it.
The ‘Tower of Life’ in Senegal is one of the best examples of biomimetic designs that pay an ode to the environment.
Modern buildings grapple with the challenges of excessive heating and cooling. In such cases, having a biomimetically designed building will moderate temperatures and keep the structure cool and warm according to the temperature. An excellent example of this is the Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe. Although the structure is made out of concrete, architect Mike Pearce has taken inspiration from African Termite Mounds. These termite mounds are porous and have self-cooling properties.
Many inspirational buildings around the world functionally employ clever designs to ensure the ease of user experience and the safety of the objects and people inside.
However, museum buildings can become more sustainable when designed through biomimetic principles. Some artefacts in a museum need to be stored in a controlled environment due to their delicate nature. However it is possible to design an overall sustainable building that reduces energy consumption and costs, and at the same time, serves its function. Museum architecture need not always reflect historical architectural styles. They must adapt to the needs of the hour and incorporate sustainability in all its aspects.
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