I love exposed concrete (or, a reflection on museum design)

So I took a rare trip out of my corner of the city, taking the train out to the westside to visit an art museum. It was a pretty convenient trip, as they recently extended the rail line so now the museum has a station right next to it. Not only that, the museum itself was rebuilt and recently opened as well, so you can imagine that everything was clean and shiny once I got off the train.

Upon exiting the station, I immediately noticed how large - and how grey - the new building was. I thought I was going to hate it, but once I entered the building, I couldn't help but fall in love.

The view upon entering the museum

It felt like stepping inside a cave, especially considering how cool the interior felt after being in the hot sun outside. It's also an interesting contrast, given that many museums and art galleries tend to have solid white walls, which to me can feel sterile and uninviting. In comparison, this "cave" felt inviting, like it's telling you to go and explore it.

And explore I did. I decided to walk its perimeter first, before looking at the interior spaces. The entire perimeter wall is made of glass windows, providing a panoramic view across the neighborhood. Additionally, since the building is shaped like a deformed puddle, you could also see the outside of the building itself.

Looking outside back into the building

After a VERY long walk across the building's perimeter, I explored a few interior rooms. Many of them had the inside walls painted, which makes sense as you want the room to visually complement the art / object / media on display. I unfortunately did not take any photos, but believe me, it was very cool.

Eventually, it was time to head back home. While on the train, I wondered how I would design my own museum or gallery if I ever became rich. I think I'd use exposed materials like concrete, brick, and wood, with lots of natural lighting. I've always been fascinated by industrial architecture, so it would also incorporate those kinds of styles as well. Maybe I'll have to get on Minecraft one day and build it there, as I don't foresee becoming rich any time soon...