Plant-Covered Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw Blends in With the Surrounding Park

The various representations of nature converge in Camilo Rebelo’s vision for the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/video-moma-curator-paola-antonelli-takes-inhabitat-on-a-tour-of-talk-to-me/" target="_blank">Museum of Modern Art</a> in Warsaw. The green structure rises in geometric points in an open plaza, with a ground that emulates the angles and lines of the architecture. The exterior of Rebelo’s structure is <a href="http://inhabitat.com/living-grass-walls-completely-cover-the-interior-of-londons-dilston-grove-gallery/" target="_blank">completely carpeted with vegetation</a>, creating an ultra-modern structure that is reminiscent of crystalline formations.

Rebelo’s <a href="http://inhabitat.com/foster-partners-unveils-new-steel-pyramid-passive-art-museum-in-datong-china/" target="_blank">museum</a> is wrapped with a flexible mesh, which bends and contorts in various geometric designs.

The outer skin is then covered with a living layer of vegetation, a continuation of the surrounding shrubbery of the park that is situated <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-arch-by-3xn-is-a-striking-day-lit-culture-center-in-norway/" target="_blank">around the museum</a>. The vegetative skin then relates the museum to the park, rather than to other important architectural icons in the Warsaw area. It also makes the literal comparison between the wonders of nature, and the wonders of art.

The lush greenery of the skin also extends to the roof, where visitors can walk along valley areas between the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/brooks-scarpa-unveil-plans-for-light-filled-saw-toothed-industrial-building-in-mexico/" target="_blank">geometric peaks</a>, with the city in view over the hills.

Since the skin mimics the nature of the park, it is also subject to change. As the seasons change, so does the surface of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/pics-patrick-blanc’s-dazzling-vertical-garden-wonderland-is-laced-with-7000-orchids/" target="_blank">growing greenery</a> on the museum’s skin, morphing in color and lushness. This change also emulates the changing of exhibitions indoors.

The multi-leveled interior of the museum would also be partially lit from an enormous skylight on the peaked roof, which will <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inflatable-ark-nova-concert-hall-will-bring-music-to-japans-tsunami-victims/" target="_blank">let light into a red chamber</a> that is the height of the entire four floors of the museum.

The resulting building consider the institution of a museum in a new context, equating it to a “new nature” that harmonizes with its surroundings, while presenting innovative <a href="http://inhabitat.com/gigantic-rubber-duckie-floats-down-the-loire-river-in-france/" target="_blank">modern art </a>indoors.