An Architect's Guide To - Museum Planninggg22

6/12/23, 6:27 PM An Architect's Guide To: Museum Planning
An Architect’s Guide To: Museum Planning

Here’s a handy breakdown of how to design museums and what features they should include in
order to effectively communicate their message.
Emma Walshaw
DETAILS
Emma Walshaw is the founder of First In Architecture and Detail Library, and has written a number of books aiming to
facilitate a better understanding of construction and detailing. First In Architecture is a website providing resources and
guides for architects and students.
A museum is a building that houses collections of art, history, or other objects. Museums are often designed to be
beautiful and inviting spaces for visitors. They can also serve as educational facilities where people can learn about the
world around them. This guide will provide you with information on how to design museums and what features they
should include in order to effectively communicate their message.
Museum Planning
Museums can vary considerably in size, type and purpose; it is, therefore, important to narrow down the particular
features and context for the project as concepts are developed. Some museums employ large amounts of staff —
qualified experts who curate, manage and conserve the collections. Other museums, however, may require very few
staff to oversee the exhibits.
While there is no standard formula for space planning and areas for a museum, due to their variations, much of the
requirements will come from the clients brief, type of collection, purpose and so on. It is important to understand the
museum’s mission, and create an interesting layout for the collections. Key to this is the circulation through the spaces
and how the visitors interact with the exhibits.
Welcoming visitors within the first few feet of a museum should be one of its biggest priorities. It’s often helpful to have
some sort of directional signage that leads people to different sections or exhibits, and provides information about
current happenings in the building. Museums are typically designed with clear flow paths so that visitors can easily find
their way around, while also providing plenty of places where they’re free to wander and explore at will.
Design Guidelines
Accessibility
It is important that the museum is accessible to all and, to ensure that it is not an afterthought, access should be taken
into consideration throughout the design process. The building must be able to accommodate people with any kind of
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disability.
https://architizer.com/blog/practice/details/architects-guide-museum-planning/ 1/63
Center for Architecture Sarasota by Guy Peterson Office for Architecture, Sarasota, FL, United States
This can fall into three different areas:
1. Approach and Entrance

Users must be able to approach and enter the building safely and easily. If the building is an existing historic
building with restrictions to access, it could be worth considering an alteration to the main point of entry to allow
for everyone to access the building in a more convenient location.
2. Circulation
All visitors should be able to circulate through the building using the same routes, with or without a disability.
Ideally, lifts should be near to main stair access to allow everyone to experience the same flow through the
spaces. Disabled facilities should be available on every floor to allow easy access.
3. Staff
All other areas not open to the public should be easily accessible for a wheelchair user, with suitable facilities on
the office level.
All access requirements will be noted in local building regulations; it is important to adhere to these guidelines.
However, I would always aim to go above and beyond the minimum requirements to make sure access and use of the
museum is enjoyed by all equally as much as possible.
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Nancy and Rich Kinder Museum Building by Steven Holl Architects, Houston, TX, United States
Circulation
How visitors flow and circulate through the museum is a key part of the user experience. Is it easy to navigate? Does
the route tell a story? Questions like this will help establish how visitors will experience the building and progress
through the exhibits.
Signage and guidance is an important part of the circulation plan of a museum, helping to guide the visitor on the
suggested route through the exhibits ensure that they have the best experience of the museum. Consider foreign
visitors and how this information might be communicated to them.
The entrance of the museum should a provide clear indication of the layout of the building, proposed circulation and
facilities available to the visitor. This will ensure the visitor is able to access the collections, and the other museum
services available.
Circulation through the museum may take a linear form, where there is a clear beginning, middle or end. Circulation
could also be a loop, where the visitor is led through the collections and finishes back at the beginning. Other options
include core and satellites, where there are more central areas with small display rooms branching off from them. In
some cases there will be a combination of all of the above.
Staircases, escalators and lifts will need to be designed in accordance with local building regulations. Circulation
through the spaces will be one of the most important parts of the museum planning and layout and is not to be
underestimated.
Display and Communication

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Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum by Studio Zhu Pei, Jingdezhen, China | Jury Winner, Museum + Project of the Year, 2021 A+Awards
How the exhibits are displayed and communicated will play an important role in the experience of the visitors. How will
the staff communicate the collections to the visitors? What do the visitors want to see? There are a variety of mediums
that can facilitate communication of the collections to the visitors and these include:
Graphic display
Video and sound
Theatre
Video
Static objects
Tactile objects
Interactive computer
Animatronics
Reconstruction
Working environments and more
Be creative and think outside the box when planning how the visitors will experience the exhibits. Think about color,
stories and how everything might connect. Depending on the exhibits, it is important that there is plenty of space
between and around the exhibits so visitors are able to experience them clearly without being crowded by other
visitors.
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Interactive elements will allow visitors to explore and learn more about the topic, while sound can create a mood or
atmosphere. Lighting is also important to allow viewers to see the exhibits clearly, but can also create an atmosphere.
Make sure that your signage is clear and well-written so visitors can easily understand what they are viewing.
Note: guidance on display and anthropometric data regarding viewing displays and so on can be found in books such
as Metric Handbook – Planning and Design Data, or Neufert Architects Data.
Collectiegebouw (Boijmans Depot) by MVRDV, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Storage
Storage spaces will depend on the nature of the collections and the work carried out at the museum in addition to the
display of collections to visitors. They can require access by staff to assess the collections, or they may be temporary
holding areas while collections and changed over. Generally the storage areas will not be open to the public and solely
used by staff of the museum.
Storage requirements will be specific to each museum and it is important to understand the requirements to ensure
enough space is provided.
Public Facilities and Restrooms

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Public facilities and restrooms should be easy to locate throughout the building. Museum visitors often spend a long
time in the building and will require moments to rest. Seating and rest zones should be available for visitors to use,
along with usual sanitary requirements. Cafes are often located at the entrance to a museum to allow visitors to access
refreshments at the start or end of their visit.
Nancy and Rich Kinder Museum Building by Steven Holl Architects, Houston, TX, United States
Lighting
The lighting design in a museum or building that houses sensitive objects is a complicated process. Considerations
need to be taken first and foremost on the effects of natural and artificial lighting on the exhibits. Direct sunlight should
not fall on a collection item and there are detailed guidance documents relating to UV radiation and light dosage which
go beyond the scope of this article.
Lighting can also create a mood and experience for the visitor as they pass through the collections. It is important that
visitors aren’t subjected to extreme changes in brightness as this can be uncomfortable. However, changes in lighting
are an important way to create interest, for example, they can create highlights and shadows around the collections.
Colored lighting and different types of fixtures can also be used to this end.
A lighting specialist would usually be consulted for a museum design.
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Zhang Yan Cultural Museum by Horizontal Design, Shanghai, China
Climate, Environment and Temperature

Museum collections are often sensitive to any fluctuations in temperature, humidity and air pollution. Therefore, it is
important the climatic conditions are designed carefully and remain constant in any areas that house the exhibits,
including any storage facilities.
There are guides available that demonstrate suitable relative humidity and temperatures for museums and galleries. It
is likely a specialist will be consulted to assist with the environment design of the museum, to ensure the conservation
of the exhibits.
Security
Security is an important consideration for any museum design. The safety of the museum staff, visitors and collections
are of utmost importance, with many factors to consider.
Reducing entry points to the museum allows for access areas to be monitored closely. Usually a single entrance for the
public will suffice, with additional access for staff and deliveries. Entrance and exits are the more vulnerable part of the
building in terms of security and need special attention when designing. Visitors can be sent through a security
checkpoint before entering the museum.
Museums are often zoned for security reasons, with daytime access enabled for all visitors, but night time security
increased. Employees can wear uniforms to that they can be easily identified and trained on how to handle
emergencies and protocols that should be followed.
All collections and exhibits must be suitably protected from theft, vandalism and accidental damage. This may include
using glass cabinets to house the exhibits or employing security staff to patrol the spaces and monitor particularly
important or expensive pieces. Space must be provided for equipment and safe escape from the building in case of
emergency.
Conclusion
Museums are often iconic buildings that can attract international attention and visitors. They can sometimes be at the
centre of urban regeneration projects receiving widespread funding to create a new civic symbol of the local
community.
There is an opportunity for excellent design throughout all areas of a museum providing an exciting project for any
designer.
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Author: Emma Walshaw
Emma Walshaw is the founder of First In Architecture and Detail Library, and has written a number of books aiming to facilitate a better
understanding of construction and detailing. The Detail Library provides architects with a database of fully resolved construction details.
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BRANDS & FIRMS
Guy Peterson Office for Architecture Horizontal Design MVRDV Steven Holl Architects Studio Zhu Pei
PROJECTS
Center for Architecture

Sarasota Collectiegebouw
An Architect’s Guide To: Graphic Perforated Metal

Panels
Discover how ImageWall perforated metal panels are defining new product applications in
architecture.
Eric Baldwin
MATERIALS
SPONSORED
Architectural innovation and creativity go hand in hand. Designers are constantly seeking new ways to push
boundaries, challenge norms, and create buildings that resonate with places and people. One material that is
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increasingly being harnessed to this end is perforated metal, with a multitude of high-tech systems now available to
architects looking for customizable wall and façade solutions.
One such example is the ImageWall system by Zahner, a renowned engineering and fabrication company with a long-
standing reputation for its work with architects. Developed specifically for perforated metal panels, it offers a range of
diverse qualities for projects across typologies and climates.
Zahner became known for advanced metal surfaces and systems with both functional and ornamental forms. With
ImageWall, Zahner has created a system that offers design versatility to make immersive experiences. With its
accessible design tools, affordability, and wide range of applications, the perforated metal panel system empowers
designers and architects to bring their visions to life.
Whether used in commercial, hospitality, retail, or residential settings, this material provides a customizable canvas for
integrating backlighting, materials, and graphics. In this guide, we’ll explore the creative potential of perforated metal
panel systems like ImageWall, from the design process to technical detailing and application.
Conceptualization: Pushing the Boundaries of Design
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One of the most remarkable aspects of the ImageWall system is its accessibility to designers. Gone are the days of
tedious back-and-forth communication. With this system, designers can now conceptualize and design directly within
an intuitive online visualizer tool on the Zahner website.
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This streamlines the design process and empowers architects to bring their visions to life more efficiently than ever
before. The accessibility provided by the system fosters a greater sense of creative freedom, allowing designers to
experiment, iterate, and explore a multitude of design options.
Design With ImageWall
Recently, Zahner Labs has further developed the system with ImageLines — an additional customization for generating
perforated images. As the team explains, perforations are positioned by an array of customizable lines or curves, while
perforation size is driven by a source image. Try it out; it’s easy to upload an image to the configurator and see how
ImageLines takes perforated façades to the next level.
Technical Details: Streamlined Installation and Pre-Engineered Elements
The ImageWall perforated metal panels not only look beautiful, but also allow for more streamlined detailing. Through
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the use of pre-engineered elements and easy-install systems, the cost and lead times are significantly reduced
compared to traditional custom solutions. This makes affordability a key advantage offered by Zahner’s system.
Their product also allows clients with tighter budgets to benefit from the company’s reputation for quality craftsmanship
and design expertise. In turn, the evolution from custom projects to a pre-engineered product demonstrates Zahner’s
commitment to making cutting-edge design accessible to a wider audience.
Download ImageWall Details
From sleek and modern metals like stainless steel and aluminum to warm and inviting materials like pre-weathered
weathering steel and copper, ImageWall provides architects and designers with a wide selection of options to suit their
desired aesthetic.
Additionally, the system can incorporate other materials such as glass, ceramics, or options like recycled materials,
ensuring that each project can be uniquely tailored to meet the specific design requirements and desired visual impact.
The versatility in material choices offered enables the creation of customized architectural elements that seamlessly
integrate into a design.
Applications: Versatility Across Architectural Typologies
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At its heart, Zahner’s system has wide-ranging applications across architectural typologies. From commercial buildings
to hospitality spaces, retail environments to multi-unit residential common areas, ImageWall seamlessly integrates with
other building systems, structures, and assemblies.
This adaptability makes it a valuable tool for architects and designers working on a diverse range of projects. Whether
it’s an eye-catching façade for a high-end hotel, an immersive retail environment, or a statement piece in a public
space, the system offers endless possibilities for enhancing the appeal of a structure, entry or interior.
Creative Possibilities: Enhancing Design with Light, Materials, and Graphics
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ImageWall offers a myriad of creative possibilities, including lighting options, material choices, and graphic integration.
Backlighting adds a whole new dimension to architectural design, bringing depth, texture, and visual interest to spaces.
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With a vast array of materials to choose from, architects can find the perfect match for their desired aesthetic, whether
it be sleek and modern or warm and organic. The graphic options also enable the integration of custom patterns, logos,
or artwork, allowing architects to create truly unique and memorable spaces that leave a lasting impression.
Case Studies: Showcasing the Power of ImageWall
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To appreciate the capabilities of perforated metal panels, there are many noteworthy case studies. For example, the
ImageWall system was employed only a short walk from Canada’s Parliament buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, where the
team of B+H Architects and Morguard collaborated with Zahner to enhance the experience of entering their office
complex at 350 Sparks. The installation of custom perforated wall art showcases the journey along the Ottawa River
adjacent to Parliament Hill. Zahner supplied 1,563 visible square feet of aluminum panels and associated sub-framing
for the installation.
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Zahner also collaborated on the Legacy Pavilion for The Equal Justice Initiative. The Pavilion, designed by Williams
Blackstock Architects, is the EJI Museum campus’ new building. Zahner engineered and fabricated the custom Angel
Hair stainless steel that clads the exterior of the building, which depicts the iconic images of several local civil rights
activists that inspire hope for equal justice. In a similar way, two ImageWall murals clad the east and north sides of
1256 Penn Ave, featuring individual portrait panels of renowned local civil rights activists that helped shape the culture
of Minneapolis.
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These case studies demonstrate how Zahner’s perforated metal panel system can be utilized by architects to enhance
their designs. Its adaptability, material options, and creative possibilities have allowed architects to push boundaries
and transform their visions into new landmarks.
Explore More Projects
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ImageWall represents the evolution of architectural solutions, bridging the gap between visionary concepts and
practical implementation. Its accessibility to designers, affordability, wide range of applications, and design potential
make it a versatile and valuable tool for architects and designers alike.
As Zahner continues to push boundaries and redefine what is possible in architectural design, the system stands as a
testament to their ability to transform visionary concepts into innovative architecture products and systems.
Learn more about ImageWall here, start designing your own custom perforated panel here, and reach out to Zahner’s
specialists about your next project here.
Author: Eric Baldwin
Eric Baldwin is the Firmwide Communications Manager for Perkins&Will. Based in New York City, he was trained in both architecture
and communications with a background spanning media, academia, and practice. He is deeply committed to trying as many restaurants
as possible in NYC.
Read more articles by Eric
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Sustainable Practice: An Inside Look at the Zero

Waste Design for The Greenhouse Theatre
A striking, if understated, approach to experimental venue design, this traveling theater is hand-
built from recycled and reused materials.
Martin Guttridge-Hewitt
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STORIES
Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 11th Annual A+Awards! Interested in participating next season?
Sign up for key information about the 12th Annual A+Awards, set to launch this fall.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and it has plenty to answer for in design and architecture. This is immediately
evident at The Greenhouse, a zero-waste theatre complete with performance space, standalone screening room, bar
and box office
Visiting three prime spots in London this summer, the first run, at Royal Docks, was part of Sea Change, a cultural
program about climate. Next, the space holds a residency at Canary Wharf, from 19th June until 14th July, before
finishing at Battersea Power Station between 7th August and 3rd September. A striking, if understated, approach to
experimental venue design, the venue is hand-built from recycled and reused materials. After revealing his background
in site-specific productions, Artistic Director Oli Savage tells Architizer how the idea came about.
“Around 2016, a close friend, collaborator and colleague of mine put a script on my desk all about eco-terrorism,
Swallows. It was a metaphor for violence towards each other and towards the planet by Henry Robert, a really talented
writer. I’m interested in space and how a space can make the show work. And from a practice perspective, I’m
interested in working holistically. To me, if you’re putting on a show, it’s important that everything around that show
reflects the ideas of what that show is talking about. You’d feel a little hypocritical working on a climate piece and
having lots of impact and waste,” says Savage.
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The Greenhouse is the UK’s first zero waste theatre (C) The Greenhouse Theatre
“A couple of years later, we’re on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival, our show was A Midsummer
Night’s Dream. Standing in the pissing rain, handing out flyers to promote the performance, I said to our head of
marketing: ‘Surely this isn’t actually a very effective way of getting people through the door’. She said: ‘No, and it
causes a lot of waste.’ I started digging into this, and it’s astounding how much waste is created, most of which isn’t
recyclable,” he continues. “This is particularly evident in fringe arts.”
With the script for Swallows still in mind, Savage began brainstorming with collaborators, trying to figure out how the
show could run at the Edinburgh Fringe and stay true to its climate message. Soon realizing there was no existing
facility that could tick all necessary boxes, a decision was made to create a new space. Returning to the Scottish
capital twelve months on, The Greenhouse debuted in 2019 with Swallows finally staged and, as Savage puts it, “has
been on and off” since.
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The Greenhouse Theatre under construction in London, 2021 (C) The Greenhouse Theatre
“I just say to people come and see the space,” Savage replies when we ask about the green credentials. “I’d say it’s
obvious when you’re inside — this is not making claims that can’t be backed up. In terms of design principles, we were
determined to show the materials being using, so the waste is showcased front line for people to see for themselves.
And we’re a zero waste theatre, that’s the terminology. There are differences between this and, say, carbon neutral. So
all the materials had a life before us, and will hopefully have another life once we’re finished.
“Broadly, the whole thing is built from three materials. Timber framing and wood pallet cladding, around a triangular
lighting truss skeleton. The roof is made from corrugated PVC,” he explains. “As you’re designing, you’ve got to be
thinking, if we want this to be zero waste, what materials do we have access to? How are we going to be able to deliver
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this in a zero waste way. Another interesting thing was our first situation for the venue didn’t have the possibility of any
power. So we came to this conclusion it needed to be naturally lit with a clear plastic roof. That’s now one of my favorite
aspects of the venue.”
The Greenhouse Theatre at Canary Wharf, London (C) The Greenhouse Theatre
For Savage, The Greenhouse Theatre design is all about dialogue between different demands. The requirements
stipulated by the project itself — zero waste, low impact — and the need to develop a space suitable for creative
practice. Form meeting function deep in the grass roots.
“It was also a necessity for me that it was in the round. That was a big thing. If I’m working in a theatrical space, it has
to be either in the round or traverse. It creates this sense of community,” says Savage, pointing out all this is replicable.
“Reclaimed timber is easy to come by. There are lots of facilities around the UK, recycling centres that take surplus
timber from sites, clean it, then sell it on. Most are charities, awesome organizations. The trussing was from a lady who
used it for trade shows, retired and sold it to us for a really good price. The plastic, I think it was a builder who bought it
for a project that was cancelled or over-ordered.”
“The headline is that it’s not that hard. It seems like it’s challenging, but so much theatre, at university for example,
relies on borrowing and reuse,” he adds. “We have a consultancy, working with filmmakers, other theatre makers,
creatives, to help them towards zero waste. There’s a lack of provision for fringe artists in terms of this type of thing. It’s
tricky, though. One of the hardest things is a lot of people expect work for free… Obviously, my goal as a person is to
have the most impact and help. But the reality is some try to take advantage… If we can’t monetize, I’m not going to
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a business, and we’re not gonna be able to run.”
Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 11th Annual A+Awards! Interested in participating next season?
Sign up for key information about the 12th Annual A+Awards, set to launch this fall.
Author: Martin Guttridge-Hewitt
Martin Guttridge-Hewitt is a freelance journalist based in Manchester, UK. His work has appeared on platforms including BBC, the
Guardian, Metro and VICE, and regularly touches on culture, climate, sustainability, social justice, design and creative industries. In
addition to independent work, he has a retained role as an environmental writer at Public Sector News Network and editor at the
interdisciplinary annual print magazine, Design Exchange.
Read more articles by Martin
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25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile

Though it may be the narrowest country in the world, Chilean architects’ reach is far and wide.
Architizer Editors
COLLECTIONS
CHILE
A vast yet narrow topography and a booming design community, Chile continues to gain recognition for its architectural
achievements and innovative experimentations of space. From Pritzker Prize-winning Alejandro Aravena to Cecilia
Puga, an impressive cohort of Chilean architects have taken center stage in the international design community, and
many new studios are on the rise, setting the bar high for continual national architectural feats.
Chile’s geological structure has posed both ideal spaces for construction as well as its challenges. Nestled between
the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the varying landscape – deserts, coastlines and mountainscapes – has
led to interesting design variations and organizations. On the other hand, as a nation prone to seismic activity, Chile
has experienced its fair share of natural disasters, leading to significant advances in earthquake-resistant structures.
Chile’s political history has greatly impacted the nation’s design sensibilities. From its Spanish colonial history to the
present, economics and foreign influence greatly changed the built environment. The end of the Pinochet regime was
an important moment for architecture in Chile, leading to a boom in architecture schools and a broader curriculum.
Many architects fuse local practices and materiality with Modern sensibilities. This fusion remains a guiding principle
for many Chilean architects today. Though it may be the narrowest country in the world, Chilean architects’ reach is far
and wide.
With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an
ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Chile based
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on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.
How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural
excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of
priority:
The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)

The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2023)
Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually,
taking into account new achievements of Chile architecture firms throughout the year.
Without further ado, here are the 25 best architecture firms in Chile:
25. Tidy Architects
© Tidy Architects
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Albert Tidy Architects is an architecture office based in Santiago, Chile. We define our work as an exploration of
architecture and design as plastic phenomenoma. Our search centers in the reduction of perceptible constructive
complexities, to try to shorten the distance between the original idea and the complete building. This process is taken
through a wide spectrum of scales, from object design, furniture design and architecture in a variety of scales.
Some of Tidy Architects’s most prominent projects include:
Martínez House, Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile

Chovar House, Las Condes, Chile
The following statistics helped Tidy Architects achieve 25th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 2
24. Alex Plana Arquitecto
© Alex Plana Arquitecto
Alex Plana Arquitecto is a design practice led by architect Alex Plana in Chile. The principal has completed several
residential projects.
Some of Alex Plana Arquitecto’s most prominent projects include:

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Casa 39
Casa 45, Curicó, Chile
The following statistics helped Alex Plana Arquitecto achieve 24th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 2
23. Elton + Léniz Arquitectos Asociados
© Elton + Léniz Arquitectos Asociados
Since 1993, the elton_léniz office has carried out a wide spectrum of requests independently, along with a varied list of
associated collaborators in which there are included artists, architects and designers. This diversity and versatility in
the designing capacity on different levels and topics has been developed as one of the main features of this office.
Within the projects developed there are objects and furniture, mounting of exhibitions, commercial spaces, interior
design, single-family and collective dwellings, art galleries, offices and residence buildings, urban development,
educational spaces and more.
Some of Elton + Léniz Arquitectos Asociados’s most prominent projects include:

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Casa El Pangue
Ranco House, Lago Ranco, Chile
The following statistics helped Elton + Léniz Arquitectos Asociados achieve 23rd place in the 25 Best Architecture
Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 2
22. Etcheberrigaray – Matuschka Arquitectos
Journal © Etcheberrigaray - Matuschka Arquitectos
Etcheberrigaray – Matuschka Arquitectos is an architecture practice based in Santiago, Chile with a focus on
residential design.
Some of Etcheberrigaray – Matuschka Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
Pangal Refuge, Casablanca, Chile

Casa Donoso Smith, Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile
The following statistics helped Etcheberrigaray - Matuschka Arquitectos achieve 22nd place in the 25 Best Architecture
Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 2
21. COMUNarquitectos
© COMUNarquitectos
COMUNarquitectos is a firm created in 2010 in Tokyo, Japan with the idea of make architecture mainly for the
community. We, its founders think that architecture is a social-design issue and our goal is designing for and by people
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without neglecting art. Now we are in our mother land, Chile sharing all that we learned.
Some of COMUNarquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
Municipal Sports Pavilion – Calera de Tango, Calera de Tango, Chile

MJ House, Melipilla, Chile
LONQUÉN SCHOOL GIMNASIUM, Calera de Tango, Chile
The following statistics helped COMUNarquitectos achieve 21st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 3
20. DX Arquitectos
© DX Arquitectos
We are a professional support that promotes individual and collective undertakings for the development of a conscious
and consistent architecture.
We work as a network, with passion and commitment, generating proposals that fully resolve the uniqueness of each
project.
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Some of DX Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
Rabanua House , Santiago, Chile

AYC, Santiago, Chile
Acrobatic Arts Center, Santiago, Chile
The following statistics helped DX Arquitectos achieve 20th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 3
19. Gonzalo Iturriaga | Arquitectos
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© Pablo Casals Aguirre
The design exercise of the office is based on establishing a broad and reflective look around the multiple variables that
each assignment presents. Under this gaze, each project is considered as a particular formal and spatial investigation,
on the program, the place, the material and the client’s requirements. Resolving in this exercise, a project that seeks to
respond to the imperative needs of the order, but advancing in the design practice of the office.
Some of Gonzalo Iturriaga | Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
Proingas, Santiago, Chile

RF.C9, San Esteban, Chile
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Casa C.L.R, La Reina, Chile
The following statistics helped Gonzalo Iturriaga | Arquitectos achieve 19th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in
Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 3
18. MAPA Arquitectos Consultores
© MAPA Arquitectos Consultores

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MAPA Arquitectos Consultores integrates the experience and knowledge of its partners in the development of strategic
projects and for public use and on a large scale (sanitary, educational, sports, research, residential, etc.). It constitutes
a team capable of dealing with professional practice with solvency, understanding it as a multidisciplinary collective
project whose purpose is to provide an effective, varied and natural response to complex problems. MAPAAC is a
company with the capacity to form multi-professional teams capable of addressing all aspects involved in the planning,
design, construction or analysis of building complexes.
Some of MAPA Arquitectos Consultores’s most prominent projects include:
MR House, Maule Region, Chile

e_RC, Providencia, Chile
WA HOUSE, Curacaví, Chile
The following statistics helped MAPA Arquitectos Consultores achieve 18th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in
Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 3
17. Masfernandez Arquitectos
Journal
© Nico Saieh
Our office seeks to develop projects that fit into their surroundings, adding real value to their owners and users, with a
contemporary architectural language. Since we started 26 years ago, we have combined the traditional work of the
architectural firm, the use of new technologies and constructive innovations to design memorable buildings and
houses. Our team is a blend of multiple talents that work together with our clients to achieve strategic and creative
designs that put people at the center and improve their environments.
Some of Masfernandez Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
Tunquen House, Algarrobo, Chile

Journal
Maitencillo House, Puchuncaví, Chile
“Los Bosques” House, Santiago, Chile
The following statistics helped Masfernandez Arquitectos achieve 17th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 3
16. Alejandro Soffia
Journal © Alejandro Soffia
Alejandro Soffia Arquitecto is an architect based in Santiago, Chile. He focuses on material optimization and
prefabrication, as a way to improve buildings impact on the environment, and give access to good design, to a wider
range of population. Projects have been done in different scales and destinations, but they have been focused on
materials, techniques and details.
Some of Alejandro Soffia’s most prominent projects include:
SIP Panel House, Santo Domingo, Chile

SAWHORSE HOUSE, Santiago, Chile
HOSTAL RITOQUE, Quintero, Chile
Sawhorse House, La Reina, Chile
The following statistics helped Alejandro Soffia achieve 16th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 4
15. REPUBLICA PORTATIL
Journal
© REPUBLICA PORTATIL
In 2003, República Portátil was born as a community of creatives related in a transdisciplinary way. Their interests and
obsessions converge in the theoretical-practical development of projects related to living, the temporality of architecture
and the social production of space.
Among their works are medium and large scale pavilions, made in cities in Chile and abroad. Among their works are
medium and large-scale pavilions, made in cities in Chile and abroad, as well as shelters, art installations and modular
equipment. República Portable is currently operating between Concepción, Valdivia, Valparaíso and Santiago de Chile.
Some of REPUBLICA PORTATIL ‘s most prominent projects include:
Journal
Diffuse Pavilion, Concepción, Chile
FAV – ART FESTIVAL OF VALPARAÍSO, Valparaiso, Chile

Uninhabited Pavilion , Concepción, Chile
VSR – Vertical Students Residences
FUNDAMENTAL ROOM, Concepcion, Chile
The following statistics helped REPUBLICA PORTATIL achieve 15th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 8
14. 2DM
Journal
© 2DM
2DM arquitectos is an architecture office based in Santiago de Chile, founded in 2014 by Daniel Díaz Miranda. The
office is dedicated mainly to the development of private projects of varied scale, in residential, commercial and
industrial fields.
Some of 2DM’s most prominent projects include:
2 houses in Puertecillo, Chile, Navidad, Chile

Casa Rapel, VI Región, Chile
Journal
The following statistics helped 2DM achieve 14th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 2
13. Alvano y Riquelme Architects
© Alvano y Riquelme Architects
Alvano y Riquelme Architects is a Santiago-based design practice founded by Pablo Riquelme and Renzo Alvano. The
firm Journal
specializes in residential and real estate architecture.
Some of Alvano y Riquelme Architects’s most prominent projects include:
Casa 14, Casablanca, Chile

Aulario UDP., Santiago, Chile
The following statistics helped Alvano y Riquelme Architects achieve 13th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in
Chile:
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 2
12. Azócar Catrón
Journal
© Azócar Catrón
AZÓCAR CATRÓN is an architecture and urbanism office established in Concepción, Chile in 2015 by Ricardo Azócar
and Carolina Catrón.
Some of Azócar Catrón’s most prominent projects include:
Infinity Bench, Concepción, Chile

Two Towers and a Trail , Coronel, Chile
The following statistics helped Azócar Catrón achieve 12th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Journal
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 2
11. Jorge Figueroa + Asociados
© Jorge Figueroa + Asociados
Jorge Figueroa + Asociados is a Chilean-based architecture firm. The studio has accomplished a series of residential,
Journaleducational and offices designs.
commercial,
Some of Jorge Figueroa + Asociados’s most prominent projects include:
Fray León , Santiago, Chile

Noi Hotel, Santiago, Chile
The following statistics helped Jorge Figueroa + Asociados achieve 11th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in
Chile:
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 2
10. CONOR
Journal
© CONOR
CONOR® brings together enthusiastic professionals, who seek to create a new way of treating architecture, through
innovation in design and works.
We have developed projects in Chile, USA, Peru and maintain constant openness towards the international market.
CONOR®, manages to maintain a constant growth, from its beginnings to the present, generating trust bonds with its
clients, expanding, improving the quality of its services and the work environment. Currently the company is made up
of a team of qualified professionals, technicians, consultants and practitioners.
Some of CONOR’s most prominent projects include:
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Micro Oasis Tambo Pintados, Chile
Hero Store, Iquique, Chile

Complejo Noctiluca, Iquique, Chile
The following statistics helped CONOR achieve 10th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 3
9. L A N D
Journal
©LAND
L A N D was founded in 2007 by Ángela Delorenzo Arancibia and Cristóbal Valenzuela Haeussler. The firms is made
up of architects, landscape architects, urban planners, artists and environmental specialists all committed to improving
the relationship between built and natural environments.
Some of L A N D’s most prominent projects include:
Rambla House, Chile

PLINT HOUSE, Pichilemu, Chile
CATCH THE LIGHT CLASSROONS
The following statistics helped L A N D achieve 9th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 3
8. Cazu Zegers Arquitectura
Journal
photo: Isabel Fernandez - © Cazu Zegers Arquitectura
Cazú Zegers proposes a different angle of approach towards architecture, in an expressive search, closely related to
Latin America, its territory, landscape and traditions. From here arises a task “in progress” that involves a poetic
reflection on the way in which we inhabit the territory.
Cazú Zegers Arquitectura has established itself as a world leading company in proposing new ways of understanding
and inhabiting the territory, with a truly Latin American language, shaping the ways that various human groups inhabit
the space, without seeking to impose themselves, but rather to enter in dialogue with the environment allowing to
inhabit almost without leaving a trace on the territory and being a kind addition to Nature. A low technology position is
proposed that learns from local processes and their ancestral techniques.
Journal
Some of Cazu Zegers Arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
Casa Do, Canela, Chile

Hotel of the Wind / Tierra Patagonia Hotel, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile
Casa Soplo, Santiago, Chile
The following statistics helped Cazu Zegers Arquitectura achieve 8th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 3
7. Gonzalo Mardones Arquitecto
Journal
© Gonzalo Mardones Arquitecto
Gonzalo Mardones Arquitecto is a studio directed by Gonzalo Mardones V. Hon FAIA, based in Santiago de Chile with
offices in Miami and Madrid. The workshop is characterized by working on commissions of all scales and uses. It has
carried out housing, office, commercial, hotel, educational, sports, religious, cultural, etc. projects, accumulating more
than 2.5 million square meters built.
Some of Gonzalo Mardones Arquitecto’s most prominent projects include:
MIELE Light Box

Miele Gallery
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House RP, Lampa, Chile
The following statistics helped Gonzalo Mardones Arquitecto achieve 7th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in
Chile:
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 3
6. Pezo von Ellrichshausen
© Pezo von Ellrichshausen

Journal
Pezo von Ellrichshausen Architects was established in Concepción, Chile, Chile in 2001 by Mauricio Pezo and Sofia
von Ellrichshausen. With a cross production between art and architecture, the studio has built a series of singular
houses, art pavilions and residential buildings.
Some of Pezo von Ellrichshausen’s most prominent projects include:
Solo House, Cretas, Spain

Casa Cien, Concepcion, Chile
Bell pavilion, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
Blue Pavilion, London, United Kingdom
VARA PAVILION XV VENICE ARCHITECTURE BIENNALE 2016, Venezia, Italy
The following statistics helped Pezo von Ellrichshausen achieve 6th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 4
Total Projects 5
5. Grupo Arquitectos
Journal
© Grupo Arquitectos
Grupo Arquitectos is an Architecture firm founded in 2002 by architects Jorge Hasbun N. and Catalina Valdés Tocornal.
The firm develops architecture design focused in housing, commercial architecture (retail and corporate), master plans
and real estate buildings. Our design principles are based in the direct study and concept analysis of each project as
an individual case, characterized by exhibiting and akin diverse architecture results.
Some of Grupo Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
One Tree Book Store, Santiago, Chile

O´Higgins Soccer Club Training Center, Rancagua, Chile
Journal
Grupo Arquitectos Studio, Santiago, Chile
Mujeres Empresarias Headquarters Offices, Santiago, Chile

Book Cellar, Santiago, Chile
The following statistics helped Grupo Arquitectos achieve 5th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 39
4. Panorama Arquitectos
Journal
© Panorama Arquitectos
Panorama is a Chilean practice, launched in 2009 by architects Nicolás Valdés and Constanza Hagemann.Panorama,
as the word explains, aims to research every possible aspect of an assignment. We emphasize the idea that every
client is different, every site is unique and the formal outcome must be true to all those parameters.
Some of Panorama Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
D House, Matanzas
Sauna in the Woods, Lago Ranco, Chile
R House, Cachagua, Zapallar, Chile
Journal
Water Bottling Plant, Coihaique, Chile
The following statistics helped Panorama Arquitectos achieve 4th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 4
3. GUBBINS POLIDURA ARQUITECTOS
© GUBBINS POLIDURA ARQUITECTOS
Journal
This Santiago-based firm was born from the merging of Gubbins Arquitectos and Polidura Arquitectos and is dedicated
to architecture and urban planning projects GUBBINS ARQUITECTOS is an architecture and urbanism studio, founded
in 1996 by Victor Gubbins and Pedro Gubbins. In 2017 Antonio Polidura joined Gubbins Arquitectos as a partner and
created Gubbins + Polidura Arquitectos studio. The studio has materialized a great diversity of architecture projects;
interventions on heritage architecture, single-family homes, housing complexes, office buildings, universities, colleges,
soccer stadiums, sports and cultural centers, shopping centers and retail.
Some of GUBBINS POLIDURA ARQUITECTOS’s most prominent projects include:
Escuela Panguipulli, Panguipulli, Chile

Omnibus House, Zapallar, Chile
Neighbor Care Center, Peñalolén, Chile
THE MIRADOR HOUSE, Tunquen, Chile
Colegio San Andrés, Maipú, Chile
Top image: Escuela Panguipulli by GUBBINS POLIDURA ARQUITECTOS, Panguipulli, Chile
The following statistics helped GUBBINS POLIDURA ARQUITECTOS achieve 3rd place in the 25 Best Architecture
Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 5
2. MARSINO Arquitectura
Journal
© MARSINO Arquitectura
Marsino is a practice of architects, designers, engineers and consultants based in Santiago with an office in Lima. We
work together with clients and users to create special places where people want to live, work, learn and be.
Some of MARSINO Arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
AVA 159 Building, Lima, Peru

Edificio Departamento de Física, Universidad de Tarapacá., Arica, Chile
Aularios Campus Juan Gomez Millas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Oficina P17, Santiago, Chile
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ASIA House, Asia District, Peru
The following statistics helped MARSINO Arquitectura achieve 2nd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
A+Awards Winner 1
A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 5
1. 57studio
Journal
© 57studio
57STUDIO is an architecture office founded in 2002. Its two partners are Maurizio Angelini and Benjamín Oportot, both
architects from the University of Chile. Their work has been published, exhibited and awarded around the world. In
2004, they won the XIV Chilean Architecture Biennale and were selected in the Chilean sample to exhibit at the IX
Venice Biennale. In 2016 they win the First Prize of Casa FOA Chile and are awarded at the X BIAU Ibero-American
Architecture Biennial. And in 2018 they won the Best Object Design Award from ED Magazine. His work seeks to
maximize the relationship between the building and its context. This search is developed through a design process with
a technical and constructive approach, harmoniously combining form, function and materials.
Some of 57studio’s most prominent projects include:
Fray Leon House, Las Condes, Chile

Kübler House, Condominio Las Brisas Norte Chicureo, Colina, Chile
Sasso House, Santiago, Chile
Horse Stable, Coelemu, Chile
Grupo Sud, Providencia, Chile
The following statistics helped 57studio achieve 1st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile:
Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 5
Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the
world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is
also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands
of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.
Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide,
including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.
Journal
An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted
A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “”+”” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the
badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular
choice award.
The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are
selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or
awarded Project of the Day status:
Project completed within the last 3 years

A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
High quality, in focus photographs
At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
Inclusion of construction photographs
There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the
Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.
Journal
We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about
this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at
editorial@architizer.com.
Author: Architizer Editors
Read more articles by Architizer
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01ARQ 2DM 57studio Alejandro Soffia Alex Plana Arquitecto Alvano y Riquelme Architects Azócar Catrón
CAE Arquitectura Cazu Zegers Arquitectura COMUNarquitectos CONOR Cristián Axl Valdés Cristian Irarrazaval A. Architects
Duque Motta & AA DX Arquitectos Elton + Léniz Arquitectos Asociados Estudio Base Arquitectos
Etcheberrigaray - Matuschka Arquitectos Felipe Assadi + Francisca Pulido Arquitectos Gonzalo Iturriaga | Arquitectos
Gonzalo Mardones Arquitecto Grupo Arquitectos GUBBINS POLIDURA ARQUITECTOS Jorge Figueroa + Asociados LAND
MAPA MARSINO Arquitectura Masfernandez Arquitectos Pablo Larroulet | LARROU_Arq Panorama Arquitectos
Pezo von Ellrichshausen PLAN Arquitectos REPUBLICA PORTATIL RHGH Tidy Architects
Journal

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6/12/23, 6:27 PM An Architect's Guide To: Museum Planning

An Architect’s Guide To: Museum Planning

This can fall into three different areas:

1. Approach and Entrance

Display and Communication

Collectiegebouw (Boijmans Depot) by MVRDV, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Public Facilities and Restrooms

A lighting specialist would usually be consulted for a museum design.

Zhang Yan Cultural Museum by Horizontal Design, Shanghai, China

Climate, Environment and Temperature

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Technical Details: Streamlined Installation and Pre-Engineered Elements

Download ImageWall Details

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Creative Possibilities: Enhancing Design with Light, Materials, and Graphics

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25 Best Architecture Firms in Chile

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)

25. Tidy Architects

Some of Tidy Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Martínez House, Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile

24. Alex Plana Arquitecto

© Alex Plana Arquitecto

Some of Alex Plana Arquitecto’s most prominent projects include:

23. Elton + Léniz Arquitectos Asociados

© Elton + Léniz Arquitectos Asociados

Some of Elton + Léniz Arquitectos Asociados’s most prominent projects include:

22. Etcheberrigaray – Matuschka Arquitectos

Journal © Etcheberrigaray - Matuschka Arquitectos

Some of Etcheberrigaray – Matuschka Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:

Pangal Refuge, Casablanca, Chile

Some of COMUNarquitectos’s most prominent projects include:

Municipal Sports Pavilion – Calera de Tango, Calera de Tango, Chile

Rabanua House , Santiago, Chile

19. Gonzalo Iturriaga | Arquitectos

© Pablo Casals Aguirre

Some of Gonzalo Iturriaga | Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:

Proingas, Santiago, Chile

18. MAPA Arquitectos Consultores

© MAPA Arquitectos Consultores

Some of MAPA Arquitectos Consultores’s most prominent projects include:

MR House, Maule Region, Chile

17. Masfernandez Arquitectos

Some of Masfernandez Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:

Tunquen House, Algarrobo, Chile

“Los Bosques” House, Santiago, Chile

16. Alejandro Soffia

Journal © Alejandro Soffia

Some of Alejandro Soffia’s most prominent projects include:

SIP Panel House, Santo Domingo, Chile

15. REPUBLICA PORTATIL

Some of REPUBLICA PORTATIL ‘s most prominent projects include:

FAV – ART FESTIVAL OF VALPARAÍSO, Valparaiso, Chile