Architect Dominic Galicia presents the architectural design of the “Tree of Life” in the shape of a DNA strand that will be at the center of the new National Museum of Natural History.
WASHINGTON, DC – Art and science enthusiasts and members of the Filipino community gathered at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on Friday, 15 July 2016, for a presentation by Architect Dominic Galicia on the creation of the new National Museum of Natural History in Manila’s Rizal Park.
The Museum of Natural History will be housed in the building of the former Department of Tourism located beside the Museum of Filipino People, former Senate building and the National Gallery of Art, which is the former Department of Finance building.
No changes will be made to the building’s façade which follows a neoclassical style dating back to the pre World War II era. The museum’s retrofitting will follow an environmental theme and will use environment-friendly technology.
Architect Dominic Galicia and interior designer Tina Periquet are in charge of the museum’s design. A “Tree of Life” in the shape of a DNA strand will be at the center of the building and a glass dome will cover its central courtyard.
“Similar to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History here in Washington, D.C., our very own National Museum of Natural History will serve both as a symbol and an institution geared towards understanding how nature continues to shape the Filipino way of life. It promises to tell us our origins and offer visions for the country’s future as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots,” Minister Patrick A. Chuasoto, the Embassy’s Chargé d’Affairés, said in his opening remarks.
The National Museum of Natural History, together with the Museum of the Filipino People, National Gallery of Art, and National Planetarium, is a testament to the revival of the museum communities in the Philippines. Once completed, the museum complex will be a remarkable landmark in Manila and will serve as the educational, scientific, and cultural institution in preserving the various permanent national collections of the Philippines.
Earlier during the month, the National Museum of the Philippines also announced its new policy of free admission for all visitors, Filipino or foreign, to all its museums nationwide.
Architect Galicia’s presentation was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the US-Philippines Society and the Philippine Embassy.