Jordan Brinn

Cal Academy of Sciences

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Buenos Aires)

Hammar Museum (UCLA)

• How people flow through the different spaces, floors, and exhibits - this one is a little abstract, but museums I like the most either have wide open spaces that are easy to self navigate through or a more rigid path that you are supposed to follow. Some go for an in between approach, and I've found myself ending up in the same spot or missing an exhibit my accident. For example, SF MoMA does a good job of having open spaces and clear flow on each floor but getting between floors was pretty confusing. I did most recently go during COVID, so I think they had attempted change how some of the stairwells and elevators were used to help with social distancing, but it wasn't the most effective.
• balconies on higher floors that allow you to look out and over exhibits on lower floors - I feel like it is nice to have seating around the balconies as well.
• lighting - introducing natural lighting through windows, curtain walls and skylights —> drawing attention to specific exhibits through natural skylighting. Although, it is also important to think about exhibits with low to no natural light so that spaces can be illuminated manually such as aquariums or separate rooms in art galleries for viewing videos. It may be best to place these types of exhibits in basements or interiors of the buildings
• active use of rooftops - love when rooftops or courtyards of museums are used for sculptures, gardens and greenspaces, patios, etc. below are some photos of the Hammer Museum in LA