Overlooking the Gulf of Panama, FR-EE’s proposal for a new museum of contemporary art in Panama relates to its fantastic location through its flowing organic form.
The ring-shaped building is characterized by the soft movements of the waves reflected in the water surface of the surrounding sea. The ring encloses an open-air plaza at its center, creating a new public space for the citizens and visitors of Panama. The plaza is accessible through an elegant opening, created by a gentle lift in the building volume. Inside the museum, exhibition spaces follow a continuous motion, allowing visitors to navigate freely and seamlessly through the generous space.
Openings in the façade provide natural daylight and ventilation to the interior. The environmental aspect is also addressed by mixing coconut fibers into concrete – the museum’s main construction material and by integrating the surrounding landscape into the building’s sustainability plans.
The museum creates a beautiful connection between the city, landscape and sea, consolidating the different elements in a clear and recognizable shape.
CLIENT:
LOCATION: Panama City, Panama
STATUS: Proposal
DATE: 2011-2012
SIZE: 8339 m2
FR-EE TEAM: Sérgio Rebelo, Astrid Rovisco Suzano, Ana Paula Herrera, Hector Romero, Kosuke Osawa, Leonidas Trampoukis, Liz Kelsey, Pedro Lechuga, Se Yoon Park
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