A NEW cultural and architectural gem will be joining the National Museum cluster in Manila in the next few months. With the much-anticipated inauguration of the country’s very first Museum of Natural History, it’s understandable why the complex has been garnering excitement from Metro Manila’s growing number of museum-goers and culture-seekers.
But, apart from it being new and the first, something else about the National Museum of Natural History has been making the rounds online: the stunning details of its modern design. With elements that are fitting for a cultural space of its kind, I think the soon-to-open museum sets a great example for the type of urban and architectural design that Metro Manila is in dire need of.
Merging the old with the new
Manila still has a number of buildings with architectural and historical relevance, and it’s a must that we keep finding ways to make sure these heritage structures remain part of the city’s identity. One of these landmarks, the Department of Tourism building in Rizal Park, was chosen to house the National Museum of Natural History, with retrofitting works being done beginning 2013. Fast-forward to early 2017, Dominic Galicia Architects, the group tasked with the adaptive reuse of Antonio Toledo’s masterpiece, revealed stunning work-in-progress snapshots that sent museum lovers excited for the experience.
To embody its pre-World War II origins and its intent as a modern public space, the building retained its timeless neoclassical façade, while its central courtyard was equipped with state-of-the-art natural ventilation system that is a monumental centerpiece on its own.
Exemplary green elements and details
Once it opens its doors, it’s easy to imagine the National Museum of Natural History emerging as a prime example of remarkable open-air oases amid the congestion of Metro Manila.
For one, I can see its centerpiece, the aptly named “Tree of Life” canopy of the central courtyard, change the way public spaces and museums engage us. Rising six floors up from the floor, its sculptural support is fashioned as a stylized steel double helix that is inspired by and stands for our shared DNA. Capping the structure is the low-emissivity glass dome that reflects solar heat, and its deep lattices serving as brise soleil for additional shade.
Seen by Dominic Galicia Architects as an archetypal place of gathering, the group made sure that the courtyard is comfortable and conducive to its purpose as a venue for the exchanging and partaking of knowledge. Ventilation in the area will be filtered and aided mechanically, coming through the large door and windows facing Rizal Park, and the Group Entrance facing Kalaw Street. The Tree of Life canopy also has a continuous gap that separates it from the original structure, and through which the circulating air escapes.
Serving as the central backdrop of the Tree of Life is the Green Wall, with over 400 square meters of foliage—one facing the courtyard and the other toward the multilevel ramp system—featuring greenery that is endemic to the Philippines. An interesting detail is that each specimen is strategically located on the Green Wall; where each plant is placed has to do with the amount of light it gets based on its location in the wild—from mountain peaks to the dark rain forest floor.
Pride of place
Just as important as its role as another educational and cultural setting at the heart of Metro Manila, it’s worth noting how the Museum of Natural History will instill pride of place for all of us.
As the final piece, its opening will signal the birth of Manila’s very first (and way overdue) museum complex alongside the National Gallery of Art and the Museum of the Filipino People. That, in itself, is an achievement worth celebrating.
Amid all the luxury residences, classy townships and high-rise developments, we also still greatly need world-class, well-designed public spaces that will serve as our respite from the chaos and woes of city life. While these venues should be innovative, state-of-the-art, and contemporary, a big chunk of them should always be engaging representations of our pursuit to learn more about our shared identity as Filipinos.
Image credits: Dominic Galicia architects FB Page, Dominic Galicia website