Looking for something to do in Panama City?
Visit the newly opened BioMuseo.
After promising it would open any day now for the last 2 years, it opened its doors early this month (Oct. 2nd).
It has been under-construction, including significant amount of time with no construction, for the last 10 years. I have driven by it before, but not since it has been officially opened.
It has 8 galleries, but only 5 of them are fully installed and ready for viewing.
Frank Gehry – Architect
The highly sought after architect, Frank Gehry, designed the museum. The design of the museum is very much in keeping with his organic, non-traditional, and unique style.
The Biomuseo Has A Park Too
Panama’s Biomuseo is also surrounded by a new 6-acre Biodiversity Park designed by Gehry in collaboration with landscape designer Edwina von Gal.
Celebration of Panama & Its Bio Diversity
The museum celebrates Panama’s rich biodiversity.
The Biomuseo is designed as a public open-air atrium covered by a sequence of multicolored metal canopies. It is often referred to as having “colorful origami-like canopies”.
These folded canopies are designed to represent both the many tin roofed colorful houses and the diverse flora and fauna of Panama. Panama is one of the most biodiverse places in the world.
A “Similiar” Frank Gehry Design
When we are in the States, we usually call Seattle home.
Gehry created a similarly “folded” roof exterior in Seattle for Paul Allen’s EMP or Experience Music Project building.
Gehry’s design of the EMP tries to capture the music and guitar playing of Seattle native Jimmy Hendrix. (See the photo of the EMP on the right.)
BioMueseo vs EMP
I think the Panama City’s BioMueseo is much more attractive than Seattle’s EMP.
I look forward to visiting it.
Panama’s BioMuseo in June 2014
