The Leading Culture Destination Awards have been referred to as ‘The Oscars for Museums,’ for their role in recognizing institutions and cities around the globe for highlighting local culture, collaborating across sectors, and showcasing emerging destinations. And if the LCD Awards are the Oscars for Museums, then The Museum of Tomorrow, designed by Santiago Calatrava, has just won best picture for Central and South America.
The museum was awarded “Best New Museum of the Year – Central & South America” for its ability to address the future of the planet and lead the way in forward-thinking sustainable innovation.
The museum’s design is inspired by Brazilian culture and emphasizes sustainable design through its incorporation of natural light and use of water from the bay to regulate temperature. The roof and façade stretch almost the entire length of the Maua Pier while a reflecting pool filled with water from the surrounding bay gives the impression that the museum is floating. Additionally, photovoltaic solar panels on the roof adjust to the angle for the sun throughout the day for maximum solar intake.
The Museum of Tomorrow was also nominated for the ‘Museum Architecture of the Year’ award, but The Broad, a contemporary art museum in Los Angeles, won. Since the museum opened in December of 2015, it has already surpassed one million visitors and has become a symbol of the urban recovery of the Puerto Maravilha neighborhood.
Related Stories
| Feb 14, 2014
Crowdsourced Placemaking: How people will help shape architecture
The rise of mobile devices and social media, coupled with the use of advanced survey tools and interactive mapping apps, has created a powerful conduit through which Building Teams can capture real-time data on the public. For the first time, the masses can have a real say in how the built environment around them is formed—that is, if Building Teams are willing to listen.
| Feb 13, 2014
Extreme Conversion: Nazi bunker transformed into green power plant, war memorial
The bunker, which sat empty for over 60 years after WWII, now uses sustainable technology and will provide power to about 4,000 homes.
| Jan 30, 2014
How reverse engineering nature can spur design innovation
It’s not enough to copy nature. Today’s designers need a deeper understanding of environmental nuance, from the biome in.
| Jan 28, 2014
16 awe-inspiring interior designs from around the world [slideshow]
The International Interior Design Association released the winners of its 4th Annual Global Excellence Awards. Here's a recap of the winning projects.
| Jan 28, 2014
Big Ten Conference opens swanky HQ and museum [slideshow]
The new mixed-use headquarters includes a museum, broadcast studios, conference facilities, office spaces, and, oh yeah, a Brazilian steakhouse.
| Jan 13, 2014
Custom exterior fabricator A. Zahner unveils free façade design software for architects
The web-based tool uses the company's factory floor like "a massive rapid prototype machine,” allowing designers to manipulate designs on the fly based on cost and other factors, according to CEO/President Bill Zahner.
| Jan 11, 2014
Getting to net-zero energy with brick masonry construction [AIA course]
When targeting net-zero energy performance, AEC professionals are advised to tackle energy demand first. This AIA course covers brick masonry's role in reducing energy consumption in buildings.
| Dec 30, 2013
Calatrava facing legal action from his home town over crumbling cultural complex
Officials with the city of Valencia, Spain, are blaming Santiago Calatrava for the rapid deterioration of buildings within its City of Arts and Sciences complex.
| Dec 19, 2013
Mastering the art of crowd control and visitor flow in interpretive facilities
To say that visitor facility planning and design is challenging is an understatement. There are many factors that determine the success of a facility. Unfortunately, visitor flow, the way people move and how the facility accommodates those movements, isn’t always specifically considered.
| Dec 13, 2013
Safe and sound: 10 solutions for fire and life safety
From a dual fire-CO detector to an aspiration-sensing fire alarm, BD+C editors present a roundup of new fire and life safety products and technologies.