Hanoi Museum

This brilliant museum makes a not-so-subtle point that every architect needs to confront at some point. Sometimes you just need to flip architecture on it's head to make sense of it. While this project by GMP Architekten is the most literal iteration of that idea that I've ever seen, it manages to make it's case quite well. Many architecture enthusiasts and professionals have a hard time with this concept. The natural contradiction associated with these designs are rejected like a virus, yet this is one of the most important lessons to learn. The lesson is that, while we may think we understand architecture, we don't. If we understood it nearly as much as we think we do, we wouldn't reject projects like this, rather they would be a natural iteration of an organic and evolving art form. The mind has a difficult time grasping these projects, but what we really struggle with are barriers with the mind. Go to any public planning meeting and you'll know what I'm talking about. While we may make arguments that projects like this reject the natural order of things, in reality what we're saying is that they contradict our mental notion of things. Overcoming mental barriers has always been more challenging than overcoming physical barriers. But with some practice and patience, we can open our minds to these new possibilities. Enjoy.

See more at GMP Architekten

Tags: GMP Architekten, Hanoi Museum, architect, architecture, designs, planning

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Comment by Gurnav Singh Anand on April 6, 2011 at 8:53am: this is something close to guggenhein musseum, by f. l. wrigt...... the central continuous circular shaft is taken from it.... but anyways, i wud like to know if this structure can withstand earthquakes? coz the size of the cantilever is huge.... there are no columns holding the topmost floor down....or the slab has to be really thick to support it n the size of columns has to be huge.... if u get to know anything about it, pls do keep me innformed.....

Comment by Kamaluddeen Dahiru on April 5, 2011 at 4:57am: Lovely and ver fascinating architecture, love to visit the place one day...

Comment by martin senanu novieku on March 23, 2011 at 2:40am: great work

Comment by Bia Z on March 22, 2011 at 10:15am: again i would like to wot are techniques..how can we stand such structures? and make them stable? wot wud b the material in doing soo?