Mecanoo

The design for the New Hungarian Natural History Museum embraces the idea that architecture should reflect and amplify the unique qualities of its environment. The building is deeply intertwined with its surroundings, creating a seamless relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. This integration strengthens the sense of place, encouraging visitors to feel connected to the landscape while enhancing their understanding of nature.

The museum’s terraced structure, which blends into the surrounding environment, acts as a physical expression of the land itself. By offering 360-degree views and strategically placed green terraces and rooftop gardens, the design fosters a continuous connection with the Great Forest and the nearby zoo, offering visitors multiple vantage points to engage with nature. These spaces don’t just serve as amenities—they become living laboratories for environmental research, allowing visitors to interact directly with biodiversity and ecological concepts.

The integration of outdoor learning zones, ecological pathways, and wetland-inspired features ensures that the museum is not a static building but a living, evolving space that fosters engagement with both science and nature. Visitors will not only explore exhibitions indoors but will be guided through a landscape that tells the story of biodiversity, conservation, and the ecological principles that govern the world around them.

Through the use of transparent materials and a light canopy for sun protection, the museum itself becomes part of the natural landscape, inviting visitors to feel both sheltered and open to the surrounding environment. These design choices reinforce the idea that architecture should not be an isolated object, but rather an extension of the landscape—working in harmony with its context to provide an immersive, dynamic, and meaningful experience.