Culture and art - museum design

Museums are often the most iconic buildings to grace a city's skyline. In fact, through the very prestige of the architects involved and the innovation of material form, a new museum can easily herald a city's arrival on the world stage as a center for art and culture. Some are broad in appeal, collecting signature works in a wide variety of media and from a number of artistic or historic periods. Others are focused, reflecting local or brand heritage. All are unique, from the Maritime Museum in Lingan New City, China surmounted by two seemingly weightless 'sails' to the Riverside Museum in Glasgow wiht its unforgettable facade and lack of interior columns. Includes designs by Alberto Campo Baeza, Atelier Brückner, Atsushi Kitagawara Architects, Mario Botta, Gmp - von Gerkam, Marg and Partners Architects, Steven Holl Architechts and Zaha Hadid - many with accompanying plans.