UNESCO is well known for its World Heritage List, or as some like to call it – that magnet for overtourism.
Dedicated to ancient, storied or historical sites of cultural and natural importance, the list can honestly seem frozen in time due to the nature of heritage itself.
But what about modern buildings? Contemporary and forward-looking structures that push the limits of architecture?
Enter the Prix Versailles.
Since its first award in 2015, this UNESCO-sanctioned award and its panel full of major artistic and cultural figures has sought the most beautiful and meaningful commercial or cultural spaces from around the world, a list which includes airports, sports stadiums and of course-museums!
As the first of its awards for 2024, the Prix Versailles’ has crowned seven of the most awe-inspiring and thought-provoking museums of today.
So, ready to curate the curators?
A4 Art Museum
Location: Chengdu, China
Architect: Tektonn Architects
China kicks off the Prix Versailles strong with its entry – Chengdu’s very own A4 Art Museum.
Thanks to Chengdu’s southwestern location in Sichuan Province, it has milder winters and toasty summers, perhaps explaining why both the museum and the surrounding area sport a Tuscany-inspired look, with pinkish bricks and spacious squares overlooking a lake.
In fact, the copious use of brick seems to pay homage to same pinkish-red Sichuan red stone that’s native to the region, most famously seen on the Leshan Giant Buddha. The sharp, monolithic angles on many of its facades also bring to mind the geological wonders of western Sichuan.
But what really makes the A4 Art Museum is the community it tries to foster. Whether it be international exhibitions and exchanges, community outreach programs to inspire the young or artist residencies to let the spirit of art flow, A4’s wide spaces and quirky surroundings are the perfect canvas!
More Info
http://www.a4artmuseum.com/en/
Grand Egyptian Museum
Location: Giza, Egypt
Architect: Heneghan Peng Architects
The Prix Versailles’ next stop is Egypt’s far-flung past, now with a new coat of paint. Say hello to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)!
As its name suggests, the GEM is an ambitious project to unite all of Egypt’s famed ancient Egyptian civilization inside the world’s largest museum dedicated to archaeology. 20 turbulent years and over 1 billion dollars later, the result is a monument to the timeless glory of the ancient Egyptians.
Starting from its façade, you’ll see pyramid fever taken to its absolute limits with a mosaic of countless triangles that converge on a giant pyramid-shaped entrance.
Inside, a gargantuan statue of King Ramesses II welcomes visitors, placed just so that the sunlight lights up his visage – a homage to the Abu Simbel temple built in his name.
Deeper in its cavernous halls, the museum’s Grand Staircase boasts seated pharaohs that gaze down upon your every step. And to top it all off, it even boasts a sweeping view of the Great Pyramids of Giza!
More Info
Smritivan Earthquake Museum
Location: Bhuj, India
Architect: Rajeev Kathpalia (Vastu Shilpa Consultants)
On the morning of 26th of January 2001, the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake struck the Indian state of Gujarat, taking the lives of more than 20,000 people.
More than two decades later, the Smritivan Earthquake Museum now stands as a monument not just to the victims themselves but also to the region of Gujarat itself.
The main museum consists of a series of brick-like walls climbing up the slope of a mountain while a white, cone-shaped canopy traces its way to the top like the local pilgrims of old. At the very peak, a sundial platform offers visitors a commanding view of the city and forest below along with the skies above.
Inside, the museum is a monument to the past with exhibits and interactive experiences on not just the tragic earthquake and reconstruction efforts, but also the history of Gujarat and its people.
Look around the mountains and you’ll see the other great achievement of Smritivan – a forest filled with 4.5 million plants fed by 50 sustainable reservoirs carved with the names of the dead.
More Info
https://www.smritivanearthquakemuseum.com/index.html
Simose Art Museum
Location: Otake, Japan
Architect: Shigeru Ban Architects
Born from the mind of Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, the Simose Art Museum is a simple yet effective reminder that sometimes all you need is some cute, colourful blocks floating on the sea for an award-winning idea.
Located on the outskirts of Hiroshima, this waterborne museum features multicoloured cubes floating on barges as a tribute to the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea and its islands. As independent modules, the barges can be detached and rearranged to suit any layout for exhibitions within. The coloured glass panels take on an especially beautiful glow when reflected on the placid morning sea or when they’re lit up at dusk.
And what a pedigree it has for its main exhibit! Dedicated to the French designer-artist Emile Gallé, it features a portion of his colourful and intricate glass, furniture and porcelain works. There’s even a garden filled with flowers beloved by the artist himself!
If you still can’t get enough of its Simose’s surroundings, high-end villas featuring warm wooden and minimalist-white décor are available, with prices reaching a cool RM8,500 per night as of October 2024.
More Info
https://shigerubanarchitects.com/works/simose
Het Loo Palace
Location: Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Architects: KAAN Architecten
The next entry in Prix Versailles takes a stab at that most vexing of heritage questions – renovations, and exactly how much to overhaul and preserve.
The Het Loo Palace was once the 17th century Baroque palace of the Dutch royals, eventually becoming one of the Netherlands most popular museums. However, a need for new facilities and upgrades challenged contracted architects KAAN Architecten. Although building on the sweeping Bassecour courtyard would be the easiest method, it would spoil the area’s symmetrical majesty and grandeur.
So they went underground instead!
Like a master of disguise, the museum’s new tourist facilities, exhibition halls were constructed underground to preserve the beauty above. To link the historical wings above with the new areas below, they also employed halls clad in plaster, marble, wood and little hints of brick to give it a fresh yet faithful look.
But the star of the show is undoubtedly the main foyer, which makes clever use of natural light filtering in through a water and glass above – right underneath where the fountain now stands!
More Info
https://kaanarchitecten.com/project/paleis-het-loo/
https://www.archdaily.com/999537/museum-paleis-het-loo-kaan-architecten
Oman Across Ages Museum
Location: Manah, Oman
Architects: Cox Architecture
Rising out of the Omani desert is the sole entry from the Middle East – the Oman Across Ages Museum!
Instantly recognizable by a triangular façade that reaches for the heavens, the museum is an exploration of the kingdom’s history and future, all contained within a loving tribute to its dry, rocky landscape.
According to its designers at Cox Architecture, the distinctive triangular shape in its main façade draws inspiration from the Hajar Mountains, whose jagged and striking peaks are visible just north of the museum. However, they might also echo the triangular sails of the dhow boats common to the region.
This sharp, angular and orderly design is further explored with the museum’s interior, which eschews traditional support columns for more flexible steel grid supports, allowing for more expansive spaces to be used for exhibitions. Said exhibitions mainly revolve around the History Gallery and Renaissance Gallery, exploring Oman’s past and future respectively.
Sustainability is also a part of the museum’s identity, with the use of low profiles and carefully aligned walls to utilize the desert sun for lighting while reducing its harshness. The construction also uses plenty local Omani stone to cool interiors and reduce the need for air-conditioning.
More Info
https://www.coxarchitecture.com.au/project/oman-across-ages-museum/
Polish History Museum
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Architects: WXCA
Located among a cluster of museums in the heart of the capital Warsaw, the Polish History Museum immediately stands out with its heavy, almost religious use of marble.
Lining the façade and interiors in rectangular slabs, these carefully chosen marble pieces make up a mosaic that’s almost jarring at first but takes on a profound meaning once you scrutinize them closely.
Almost resembling the layers of soil commonly seen in archaeology, these Portuguese marble slabs contain mesmerizing patterns of pale white, hazy grey and jet black that repeat, branch off and reconnect in all sorts of interesting patterns. One could say that they reflect the turbulent journey of Poland into one of Eastern Europe’s success stories.
But peer up at some sections, and you might spot certain patterns deliberately etched into the marble like crosses or V-shaped hatches. In fact, these are references to patterns in famous heritage works from all around Poland, such as the Gniezno Doors or the St. Mary’s Church in Krakow, deepening the link between Polish architecture and history.
Inside, the museum boasts an open, almost nightclub-esque layout rather than your typical theme park labyrinth, allowing you to take in Polish history with ease and comfort. And if you’re still restless, the museum is located inside a larger recreational park, right next to the Warsaw Citadel, Polish Army Museum and the Katyń Museum!
More Info
https://www.archdaily.com/1007323/polish-history-museum-wxca
Feeling inspired to seek out more art and history? Then take a gander at these destinations full of attractions brimming with history, architecture and art, like China’s Jiangnan water towns, Vienna’s rich palaces and concert halls and Turkey’s colourful Greek, Byzantine and Islamic monuments.
Links
Prix Versailles Website
https://www.prix-versailles.com
