Archinect - News

Snøhetta's 'whimsical children's museum' takes shape in El Paso

2024-04-02T11:52:00-04:00

New construction photographs published by Snøhetta via social media show substantial progress on the El Paso Children's Museum, designed with Exigo Architecture.

We first reported on the scheme in 2018 when Snøhetta won the competition for the project. In 2020, the firm unveiled a completed design for the 70,000-square-foot museum, which will sit in El Paso's Downtown Arts district.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Snøhetta (@snohetta)

Through an unorthodox use of geometries, the building seeks to distinguish itself from the rest of the local skyline. The rectilinear base is wrapped in glass, allowing for natural light and interior views for the public on the outside. A succession of barrel vaults, visible in the construction photographs, add a rhythmic quality to the structure.

Olson Kundig transforms the Bay Area Discovery Museum into an immersive, research-driven learning environment for the 21st century

2021-07-20T15:11:00-04:00

A campus-wide renovation of the Bay Area Discovery Museum is finally complete, providing a much-needed upgrade to the 30-year-old institution that emphasizes a new approach to museum programming and early childhood education.

The $18.5 million project was overseen by Olson Kundig, who transformed the Fort Baker campus into an immersive center for learning while maintaining the architectural integrity of surrounding Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The firm has also recently completed an elaborate Noah’s Ark-themed children’s museum in Berlin.

Courtesy Olson Kundig

The firm installed five new permanent exhibitions, a STEM classroom, and activity spaces in addition to repurposing two existing buildings in an expanded master plan that incorporated research-driven methodologies and a focus on experiential learning.

Courtesy Olson Kundig

“We know that children are not exposed to design and engineering at an early enough age, so BADM’s mission to introduce STEM concepts through play ...

10 new architectural spaces designed for kids

2021-03-19T13:26:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Kids Spaces.

Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles.

↑ Kids Barbershop "ByBliss" in Odessa, Ukraine by JK Lab Architects; Photo: Natalia Nagorna

↑ NLL Children's Library in Riga, Latvia by GAISS; Illustrations: Rūta Briede; Photo: Ansis Starks

↑ Playground in the outdoor gallery "Walking in the Clouds" in Suwon, South Korea by EUS+ARCHITECTS; Photo: Myungho Kang

↑ Bookend House in Santa Monica, CA by ORA (Oonagh Ryan Architects Inc.)

↑ Park School in Mortsel, Belgium by Binst Architects; Environmental Construction: TV Thiers – Dujardin Landschapsarchitecten

↑ Peninsula Residence in San Francisco, CA by Richard Beard Architects; Interior Design: Kelly Hohla Interiors; Pho...

Snøhetta unveils playful design for the El Paso Children's Museum

2020-10-06T08:44:00-04:00

After winning the competition for the new El Paso Children's Museum, Snøhetta has unveiled its playful and adventurous design for the city's new educational center. The 70,000 sf museum is set within the heart of El Paso's Downtown Arts district. Through an unorthodox use of geometries, the building distinguishes itself from the rest of the local skyline.

The rectilinear base is wrapped in glass, allowing for plenty of natural light and interior views for the public on the outside. A succession of barrel vaults add a rhythmic quality to the structure that seems to represent a "cloud-like crown."

Outdoor public amenities such as streetscapes, gathering areas, and gardens have also been introduced to the new museum to take advantage of El Paso's sunny climate. At the eastern end of the building, a terraced "discovery garden" creates a series of outdoor rooms, each with one-of-a-kind atmospheres to explore.

The first floor includes free exhibitions and a cafe accompanies by the entranc...