The Museum of Indigenous Knowledge evokes prehistoric cave feel / Kengo Kuma

In Philippines, Japanese architect Kengo Kuma was chosen to design the Filipino History Museum of Manila which will cover more than 4,000 years of history in the Philippines.

Museum of Indigenous Knowledge technical information

Architects : Kengo Kuma & Associates | Kengo Kuma Bibliography & Profile
Typology : Cultural Architecture / Museum
Location : Manila, Philippines
Project year : 2014
Museum Area : 9000 m²
Evocative topics: Camouflage, Oasis
Images : Renderings courtesy Kengo Kuma

We aim to build a natural and organic museum by combining water and green in the cave-shaped space, contrary to the image of museums as closed boxes. The organic design continues to the highest floor, with village-like architecture appearing on a water pool.

– Kengo Kuma Architects

Filipino History Museum Renderings

Manila’s concrete jungle will soon be home to a surprising green oasis. Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has designed a 9,000-square-meter complex that will be dedicated to 4,000 years of cultural history, beginning with the Neolithic period, which inspired Kuma to design a building with a Stone Age aesthetic. The museum will be surrounded with a lush, oasis-like setting and artificial ravine, creating an incredible juxtaposition against Manila’s urban streets.

In contrast to the traditional exteriors of most cultural institutions, the Museum of Indigenous Knowledge located on a street corner, will surprise the visitors with a cave-like entrance with a massive plant-covered rock arch. Inside, it appears that almost every surface is covered with lush tropical plantings, which will grow around the ravine’s waterfalls and ponds.The date for construction has not been announced.

Article from Kengo Kuma Architects

The theme of this museum is to offer its visitors an experience of the Philippines’ cultural heritage, starting from the Neolithic age. Based on its concept, we aim to build a natural and organic museum by combining water and green in the cave-shaped space, contrary to the image of museums as closed boxes. The organic design continues to the highest floor, with village-like architecture appearing on a water pool. It is also an attempt to revive cohabitation of nature and history in the urban environment.