This is a red hot alert for museum fanatics and skeptics alike. Museums are not for everyone and we get that. For the most part, museums have just been old monumental buildings that store the greatest artifacts of the world, but the time has come for something fresh and new. Museums have been reborn ladies and gentlemen! The museums that are about to open in the next year are groundbreaking, cutting edge, monumental creations reflective of our modern world. They are not simply buildings, but contemporary works of art so astounding that by the time you hear or read about them it’ll be too late.
Check out the eight most essential museum openings that may redefine and revolutionize how institutions are built for years to come.!
Visually the most impressive building on our list, the Louvre in Abu Dhabi is well under way. The shallow dome consists of a layer of Islamic print and will allow the natural light seep in through the cracks. This is THE museum to see, and it will be open to the public by the end of 2016. Designed by famed French architect, Jean Nouvel, the new Louvre will be a public sanctuary; a light-filled space surrounded by water on one end.
Surprise, surprise Jean Nouvel strikes again in Qatar in this $434 million operation. The interlocking disc design was inspired by the desert rose. The museum was built around Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani’s original palace – his family home and seat of the government for 25 years. Not only will the museum include gallery space but will also include an auditorium, restaurants, cafés and a park. This is where innovation meets heritage. Sightseeing in Qatar? This should be at the top of your list.
The Museum of Image and Sound in Rio De Janeiro
Dedicated to the images of urban evolution, and the sounds of the national radio in Rio De Janeiro is the Museum of Image and Sound. If you love the samba, and can work your way around the dance floor, this is the museum to help you explore the music and history that makes you move. The museum’s linear design makes it seem almost collapsable and glows on the landscape of Rio, reflecting natural light.
The Tate Modern is now bigger and better with the extension finally completed. A perfect example of 21st century architecture, the Tate Modern is a geometric and linear piece of work that is the shining star of London. The museum recently opened its doors to the public on June 17th, offering more modern and contemporary art for viewers to come and see. Check out the new and refined Tate Modern with a larger exhibition space and an even larger collection of work .
National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.
On September 14, 2016 the Museum of African American History and Culture opens on the National Mall. After a 13 years of hard work, the museum is finally crossing the finish line. Rich in design and content, this museum is all about the diversity and substance of the African American experience in the United States. The museum says it will open the doors with extended visiting hours and a three-day festival showcasing films, popular music, dance and other attractions.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
SFMoMA opened this past May and expanded its walls with more than 4,000 new works of art. It now holds the title of the largest contemporary and modern art museum in America and the largest museum in California. The expansion more than doubles the museum’s gallery spaces and provides almost six times as much public space as the previous building. The new building includes a large-scale vertical garden on the third floor, which is said to be one the biggest public living wall of native plants in San Francisco.
The Latin American Art Museum in Miami
From afar this pretty much looks like a giant Jenga puzzle but you have to admit, it is interesting to look at. This project has been in progress for some time now but this museum will house 600 pieces of Gary Nader’s Latin American art collection. Gary Nader, an art dealer by trade, wanted to build a museum dedicated to Latin American Art, so naturally he decided to build one. A variety of modern and contemporary media will be exhibited in this sleek museum that is set to open late 2016 or early 2017.
The New Whitney Museum in New York
The new Whitney Museum of American Art is designed by Renzo Piano and is situated between the High Line and the Hudson River. The new building includes approximately 50,000 square feet of indoor galleries and 13,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition space and terraces. An expansive gallery for special exhibitions is approximately 18,000 square feet in area, making it the largest column-free museum gallery in New York City. We’re biased but it happens to be one of our favorite museums on this list, so now you have to check it out.
top image // courtesy of Louvre Abu Dhabi
