Museum of Natural History (Manila)

Museum of Natural History

The building to be occupied by the museum which is under-renovation, July 2016.
Established 2017 (planned)
Coordinates 14°34′59.9″N 120°58′55.9″E / 14.583306°N 120.982194°E / 14.583306; 120.982194Coordinates: 14°34′59.9″N 120°58′55.9″E / 14.583306°N 120.982194°E / 14.583306; 120.982194
Type Natural history museum
Building details
Former names
  • Agriculture and Commerce Building
  • Department of Tourism Building
General information
Status Under Renovation
Architectural style Neoclassical
Location Rizal Park, Ermita
Address T.M. Kalaw Street,
corner General Luna Street
Town or city Manila
Country Philippines
Completed 1941
Renovated 2015-
Renovation cost ₱1 billion
Technical details
Floor count 6
Design and construction
Architect Antonio Toledo
Renovating team
Renovating firm Dominic Galicia Architects
Other designers Tina Periquet (Interior design)

The Museum of Natural History in Manila will be a natural history museum in the Philippines to be hosted inside the building formerly occupied by the Department of Tourism within Rizal Park near the Agrifina Circle. It is to be operated by the National Museum of the Philippines.

History

The building to be occupied by the museum was built as the Agriculture and Commerce Building in 1940. The neoclassical building and was designed by Filipino architect, Antonio Toledo in the late 1930s. The Agriculture and Commerce Building was left to ruins following the aftermath of the Liberation of Manila during the World War II but was later reconstructed according to the original plans after the war.[1]

At some point in time, the building was occupied by the Department of Tourism, hence the building became known as the Department of Tourism Building.

Conversion to the Museum of Natural History

In 2013, preparations were commenced to have the building host the Museum of Natural History. The National Museum of the Philippines invited five architects to submit proposals for the retrofiting and chose design of the team from Dominic Galicia Architects and interior designer Tina Periquet. Galicia's design involved the maintenance of the building's facade except for the addition of a glass domed supported by a double helix structure which was inspired from DNA. The dome and supporting structure was dubbed as the "Tree of Life" and will cover the courtyard of the six-storey building. The project estimated to cost around ₱1 billion was initially scheduled to be completed in 2015 in time for the 2015 APEC Summit.[2][3]

A bidding for prospect contractors for the renovation of the building was done in September 2015.[4] The opening of the museum to the public is planned in 2017.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "The American Colonial and Contemporary Traditions" (PDF). National Library of the Philippines. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Villalon, Augusto (21 January 2013). "DOT building to be transformed into Museum of Natural History". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "P1-B Museum of Natural History up by 2015 to house PH's richly diverse flora, fauna". Manila Economic and Cultural Office. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Contractors invited to turn old tourism office into museum". BusinessWorld. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Untitled". Facebook. National Museum of the Philippines. Retrieved 25 July 2016. The NM will feature this research outcome in our natural history museum when it opens to the public next year [2017].
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