Metropolitan Museum of Manila

Museum - landscape, lobby, main gallery space

The design pays homage to the landscapes of the Philippines, inspired by the country’s forests, volcanic history, and the geological qualities of the archipelagos. Movable wooden decks and table tables fill the palm-planted entrance with centers of gathering, echoing the geographic form of the islands of the Philippines.

May 2021 - August 2022

CAZA Architect

Worked with: Carlos Arnaiz, Xiao Tan, Queenie Xu SD, DD, and CD, Built Completion: February 2023

An arcade of green steel tubes envelops the grand double-height reception area, calling the cover of trees and the visual effect of looking through the forest canopy. The reception lounge is finished in mossy grey, and concrete floors and walls the color of volcanic ash, imbuing the space with an air of solemnity.

The Sky Room is a lighter and more ethereal space than the earthy reception lounge, and where bluer hues and softer materials predominate. Conceived as a place of reflection and solitary contemplation, the Sky Room offers islands of seating that emerge out of a sculpted terrazzo floorscape with screens for projecting art on two sides.

The design recalls the rippling forms of karesansui, traditional Japanese rock gardens. A staircase enclosed in a folding translucent mesh rises from the Sky Room, adding a sculptural presence and inviting visitors to the upper galleries. Climbing up, visitors are enclosed by its mesh folds, an airy moment of transition to the art above.