The extraordinary beauty and fascinating complexity of nature has captivated society for centuries, and many of the world’s greatest scientists and explorers have devoted their lives to its study attempting to uncover its mysteries. It comes as no surprise, then, that, when an architect is commissioned to design a museum dedicated to the wild world, their task is a great one: how does one conceive a space that can do justice to the magnitude and magnificence of the Earth, not to mention the millions of creatures that live upon its surface?
This was the challenging brief set by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, as it looked for someone capable of realizing an expansive extension to the institution on the west side of Central Park. Enter Jeanne Gang, an architect known across the United States for her ability to deliver practical buildings with a dash of architectural theater (see the undulating skin of the Aqua Tower in Chicago and the rippled form of 160 Folsom set for construction near the waterfront in San Francisco).
The Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation will face Columbus Avenue in west Manhattan, replacing three existing buildings and integrating with the remaining complex of exhibition halls to minimize the impact on the surrounding Theodore Roosevelt Park. Studio Gang’s architectural intervention stems from a desire to “reclaim the physical heart of the Museum” and is defined by a three-dimensional web of paths that link 10 museum buildings via 30 connections.
“We uncovered a way to vastly improve visitor circulation and Museum functionality while tapping into the desire for exploration and discovery that are emblematic of science and also part of being human,” said Gang. “Upon entering the space, natural daylight from above and sight-lines to various activities inside invite movement through the Central Exhibition Hall on a journey towards deeper understanding. The architectural design grew out of the Museum’s mission.”
Spanning 218,000 square feet of multifunctional spaces including science laboratories, classrooms, a theater, an insect hall, and a library, Gang’s edifice evokes a dramatic geological formation: a cavernous atrium rises seven stories, punctuated by sculpted hollows that contain immersive installations and routes to further halls on either side. The soaring Central Exhibition Hall is envisaged as a hub for science and education offering school groups and the general public an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of nature’s complexity and how science is conducted, today.
The hollows, a “series of open, recessed chambers,” will communicate amazing natural phenomena via the power of perception and sensation. These multi-sensory spaces will allow visitors to experience the deep blue light from the depths of an ice cave, the sounds of a tropical rainforest teeming with life, and the ultrasound cry of bats in the night sky and of whales in the deep ocean. Slotted in between buildings that date back to 1872, this is a museum for the 21st century and beyond harnessing contemporary media and technology to bring ancient geography and biology to life.
Externally, the front elevation of Gang’s proposal displays a subtle, silvery quality that contrasts with its historic neighbors, but echoes the massing and relative setbacks of adjacent buildings to unite with the form of the existing complex. The vast internal atrium is expressed outside by a towering wall of glass that will run down the center of the new building allowing natural light to flood into the exhibition spaces during the day and emitting a warm glow on Columbus Avenue by night.
Upon its completion in 2020, the Gilder Center will form a new cultural landmark to rival its fellow museums and galleries on the opposite side of Central Park, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It remains to be seen how successful the details of each space will be, but, on the strength of Studio Gang’s introductory renders and drawings, the omens look good; this striking new extension looks set to tie historic heritage to contemporary design — perfectly in keeping with its hybrid program of natural history and cutting-edge scientific programs.
Ultimately, Studio Gang’s proposal has the potential to succeed as a quiet icon: an architectural landmark that, while possessing a distinctive identity, still allows the exhibits themselves to take center stage. This is a museum for the Earth and everything that lives upon it, and the new extension should form a perfect backdrop for an extraordinary array of the world’s wonders.