Cyclist pedals alongside Panama Bay during busy commute hours (Image by Diego Lezama/Getty Images; International Mapping)
BioMuseo: A New Landmark in Panama City Celebrates the Country's Biodiversity
The BioMuseo, a biodiversity museum designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry, has become a defining moment for Panama City. Located on the Amador Causeway along the Pacific shoreline, the museum opened its doors in early February 2014, marking a significant addition to the city's evolving skyline[2][1].
This architectural marvel, Gehry's only completed project in Latin America, boasts bold, colourful, and geometric forms inspired by origami, making it one of Panama City's most iconic symbols[1]. The museum focuses on Panama's unique cultural, biological, and geological history, showcasing the country's rich biodiversity and its role as a natural bridge between North and South America[3][5].
The BioMuseo's Panamarama gallery is a standout feature, immersing visitors in the point of view of sea turtles, leafcutter ants, and other indigenous creatures through wall projections of native ecosystems[4]. This gallery tells a story that began 20 million years ago, when tectonic plates clashed and underwater volcanoes formed the nation of Panama, reshaping global climate and propelling massive biodiversity[6].
Panama's strategic location has made it a crossroads of commerce and culture since its founding in 1519, influencing the museum’s narrative about the country's significance in biodiversity and global history[2]. The BioMuseo serves as a new anchor for the city, bringing together art, science, and education in one of the city's most vivid contemporary landmarks[1][3].
As the BioMuseo celebrates Panama's unique history, it also highlights the country's ongoing role in global biodiversity. From its opening, the museum marks a new chapter in Panama City's story, one that continues to unfold in the heart of the Americas.
References:
[1] Gehry Partners. (2014). BioMuseo. Retrieved from https://www.gehrypartners.com/projects/biomuseo/
[2] The New York Times. (2014). A Museum Opens in Panama, a New Anchor for the City. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/world/americas/a-museum-opens-in-panama-a-new-anchor-for-the-city.html
[3] BBC News. (2014). Panama's new museum tells story of biodiversity. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26148294
[4] Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. (n.d.). BioMuseo. Retrieved from https://www.stri.si.edu/our-work/partnerships/biomuseo
[5] National Geographic. (2014). Panama's New Museum Celebrates the Country's Biodiversity. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/2/140207-panama-new-museum-biodiversity-gehry-architecture/
[6] University of California, Berkeley. (n.d.). Panama: A Bridge Between Continents. Retrieved from https://geology.berkeley.edu/~carl/geol110a/panama.html
- The innovative BiMuseo, designed by Frank Gehry, not only highlights Panama's rich biodiversity but also its role as a historical bridge between North and South America.
- The museum's Panamarama gallery provides an immersive experience, showcasing the native ecosystems of forests, volcanoes, and marine life that have shaped the country's climate and biodiversity.
- Traveling to the BioMuseo offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about the lifestyles and animals of Panama's ecosystems, which were dramatically changed by tectonic activity millions of years ago.
- The BioMuseo's strategic location in Panama City makes it a significant destination for travelers interested in art, science, and education related to the ecosystems and biodiversity unique to Panama.
- As a testament to the ongoing importance of the country's biodiversity, the BioMuseo serves as a symbol of Panama's continued role in shaping global biodiversity and the climate, much like it has done for centuries.
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