Core77

Frank Gehry's Panamanian Biomuseum: Pretty, or Pretty Ugly?

By Perrin Drumm - November 5, 2012

in Architecture

Photos courtesy Biomusueo, copyright Victoria Murillo.

Even though Frank Gehry's new Biomuseo has received support from Panama's federal government, the Smithsonian Institute, the Amador Foundation and the University of Panama, as well as reserved but positive commentary from a smattering of architecture blogs, we're a little surprised that we're the one of the first, if not in fact the very first site to admit that our skepticism of Gehry's original plans has not been alleviated by images of the final phases of the building's construction. While some might call the disjointed roofline a signature Gehry move, it might also be a case of an old dog unable to learn any new tricks.

We know it's unfair to critique a project before the proverbial ribbon has been cut, and we welcome your input and comments, but we can't help but liken the angled, metal rooftop to a crumpled, jumbled scrap heap. Far calmer and cleaner is the interior design by Bruce Mau, which includes eight permanent galleries, temporary exhibition spaces, a public atrium and a three-story digital 'Panamarama' covered in 14 screens that, according to Mau, will take visitors along a "thematic path [with] exhibits [that go] beyond the mere illustration of ideas to become functional models whose effects bridge art and science."

We'll revisit the site again once construction is complete, and we hope we can give a favorable review if only for Panama's sake, but for now the future of the Biomuseo looks slightly crooked.

o

Favorite This
Q
5

Comment

Comments

Perrin

12 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Differences in aesthetics aside, I wonder how this will hold up over time. Usually a many-tiered roofline presents maintenance problems, and I just hope Gehry isn't leaving Panama with a building that creates an initial media frenzy and then is too costly to maintain.
!Report as spam
Andrew

12 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Looks like a rehash of the Stata Center.
!Report as spam
Walter Stockhecker

12 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

While the exterior looks like a large colorful pile of garbage and otherr refuse, the interiors seem very cool. The 'landfill metaphor may be perfectly appropriate for the current state of consumption and pollution of our environment.

!Report as spam
Panama Vacations

12 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

It's ugly. The irony is that Panama is building a museum to celebrate nature, while doing almost nothing to protect the existing nature. Maybe they're thinking ahead?
!Report as spam
adora

12 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

I'm not kidding. When I glanced my Reader feed, I thought the first 2 pictured were the image of devastation in NYC by hurricane Sandy.
!Report as spam