Pritzker Prize-winner architect Frank Gehry will make his Latin American debut in August with the opening of a new museum in Panama City.
Located in the birth country of Canadian born Gehry's wife, Bertha, the new BioMuseo aims to educate about biodiversity and the raise awareness of the significance of the creation of the Isthmus of Panama.
The museum is funded by the Amador foundation with scientific support by the Smithsonian Institute and the University of Panama
Spanning 43,056sq ft (4,000sq m), the building will feature eight permanent galleries designed by Toronto-based design firm Bruce Mau.
There will also be a public atrium, temporary exhibition spaces, cafeteria, exterior exhibits and a botanical garden designed by East-Hampton-based landscape designer Edwina von Gal.
The galleries will cover subjects such as formation of the Isthmus of Panama, local biodiversity on land and sea, and 15,000 years of human culture.
The Biodiversity Gallery highlights the importance of biodiversity and it's nowadays effects, while The Bridge Rises illustrates the geological process of formation of the Isthmus.
The museum's three-storey Panamarama space will create an audiovisual experience, placing visitors directly into a digital history environment.
Other highlights include The Great Exchange housing 97 sculptures that crossed the Isthmus Megafauna 3m years ago, The Human Footprint which illustrates 15,000 years of human culture in the Isthmus and Oceans Divided featuring two aquariums, representing the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.
