Project: PH Museum
Designed by FR-EE Fernando Romero Enterprise
Website: fr-ee.org
PH Museum shape inspired by the shape of a camera's lens comes from the drawing board of FR-EE Fernando Romero Enterprise studio. Created as a museum of photography the building is designed for a desert climate shaped at the same time as a shield from the sun. The design also has a strong reference to middle eastern culture.
From the Architects:
PH Museum is a 3 800 m2 cultural institution designed to showcase photography and photographic equipment. Situated in a desert climate, the museum’s form functions as a large canopy, providing shaded public outdoor areas that are complemented by water features and local vegetation.
Inspired by the mechanics of a camera, the organization of the museum reflects the complexity of camera lens. Program is organized radially from the center of the building and a spiraling ramp connects these spaces to emphasize spatial continuity.
The facade is composed of a splayed steel structure, clad in thin panels of local stone that interpret traditional Islamic motifs in an intricate hexagonal pattern. Perforations in the stone panels allow the main lobby to be naturally illuminated and casts lattice-like shadows that help animate the space. These apertures in the facade are reduced over exhibition spaces where environmental conditions must be carefully controlled.
