It’s a no-brainer that world-famous art museums like the Louvre and the Guggenheim are also architecturally significant—they're intended for design lovers. There are slightly quirkier museums worldwide, however, that might not be as design-centric but still boast innovative forms . In fact, the originality of the museum’s contents often spurs structures that are equally as unique. The Fire Museum in Poland bears a flame-inspired copper exterior, and the Rose Museum in China is made of stainless steel and covered in rose designs. Take a look at these seven unconventional museums with spectacular architecture designed by the likes of Zaha Hadid Architects, NEXT Architects, C + D Architecture and many more—they might just inspire your next design-focused trip across the globe.
Messner Mountain Museum Corones in Bolzano, Italy
Reinhold Messner was the first person to climb all of the world’s mountains over 26,000 feet and the first to climb Mount Everest without an oxygen tank. This museum, one of six and the work of Zaha Hadid Architects , celebrates Messner’s many milestones and the tradition and history behind mountaineering. Tucked into a crevice of Mount Kronplatz, the building is partially covered in rocks and greenery that were excavated during construction, reducing waste. Massive viewing windows and an expansive terrace provide panoramic views of the surrounding alpine peaks. messner-mountain-museum.it
Rose Museum in Beijing, China
The world’s first ever Rose Museum was designed by NEXT Architects in Beijing. A stainless-steel outer layer covered in perforated roses gives way to the main structure and creates four courtyards. Nearly 2,000 species of roses are on display, as is information about the country’s long passion for the flower, dating back to the 11th century B.C. rosebeijing2016rg
Museum of Fire in Żory, Poland
The Polish city of Żory has a fascination with fire—the place name itself means “burnt” or “flames.” A forest had to be burned to the ground to make space for the city—something residents commemorate each summer with a Festival of Fire—and OVO Grabczewscy Architekci designed the local Museum of Fire, capturing the unique urban story. Architects Barbara Grabczewska and Oskar Grabczewski created the structure using copper for the exterior and three independent walls to resemble dancing flames.
Museum of the Sea in Sète, France
The port city of Sète has a rich past thanks to its seaside location. The architects at C + D Architecture converted a once unappreciated building with dazzling Mediterranean views into the Museum of the Sea. The minimalist interiors guide you through the museum’s three sequences: the history of the port, shipbuilding, and the city’s ancient tradition of jousting. tourisme-seteom
Apoxyomenos Statue Museum in Mali Lošinj, Croatia
The Apoxyomenos, a bronze statue from the 1st or 2nd century B.C., was discovered on the Croatian island of Lošinj. After touring the nation’s museums for several years, it finally found a permanent home in a specially dedicated space: Designers Idis Turato and Saša Randić placed the museum within the existing Kvarner Palace, requiring visitors to navigate a number of halls and passageways to reach the statue. The exceedingly colorful and design-centric interiors include an amphitheatre that features a handwoven floor-to-ceiling carpet created by Studio Kulenturato. muzejapoksiomena.hr
Museum of Rock Music and Youth Culture in Roskilde, Denmark
The designers of Ragnarock, the museum of rock music and youth culture in Roskilde, Denmark, wanted the building to embody a rock ’n’ roll attitude. Dutch-based design firm MVRDV and Copenhagen-based Cobe developed a glamorous gold-and-velvet exterior and a dramatic overhang to do just that. It includes an exhibition hall, library, recording studios, workshops, cafe, and an outdoor music venue. museumragnarock.dk
Wine Museum in Bordeaux, France
The mayor of Bordeaux proclaimed his city’s new museum, Cité du Vin, as the Guggenheim of wine. XTU Architects referenced the act of swirling wine around a glass when designing the building’s fluid exterior. Dedicated to the region’s favorite drink, the museum has 14,000 bottles from 80 different countries on display, a rooftop wine bar, and three tasting rooms. laciteduvinom
