Design Folder: Your Online Design and Decorating Resource

sneak peek: the mind museum

In 2009, Lilli shared with us the launch of The Mind Museum, a project initiated by the  Bonifacio Art Foundation Inc. (BAFI). The objective was to put up the country’s first world-class science museum. Our very own Lilli, who was then a student in UP College of Fine Arts (for her second degree), was chosen as one of the designers for the exhibit displays under the Earth Gallery.

Last week, our friend Arch. Lesley Espiritu, project manager of Datem Inc., invited us for a preview of The Mind Museum before it formally opens its doors to the public this Friday, March 16, 2012. We came as one of the guests of Datem, which, aside from being the project’s general contractor, is also one of the major donors of the museum.

Designed by Arch. Ed Calma, the aluminum-clad architecture of The Mind Museum reflects his signature minimalist style. The gray color scheme of the exterior continues to the interiors of the museum and is combined with contrasting white walls and built-in interior features, providing a modern and sophisticated platform to display the exhibit galleries.

Aside from the five featured exhibit galleries, The Mind Museum also has a laboratory, lecture rooms, and an auditorium to accommodate other related group activities.

We love the futuristic design of the laboratory and lecture rooms with their slanted walls and windows, diagonal fixtures, and vibrant splashes of yellow and orange against the gray and white interiors. The same approach was also used for the design of the comfort rooms that have split-level counters, with the lower part for the kids and the higher one for the adults.

While we love the achromatic palette and the clean organic lines of the interiors, we thought that it might look a bit too serious for the kids who, by nature, respond better to bright colors. I also wish that, later on, the museum could add more play-/activity-based exhibits. Although the displays were visually appealing, many of them are still text-heavy that requires a lot of reading. Lilli and I had so much fun in Singapore’s Science Center three years ago that I expected The Mind Museum to have that same playful approach to learning science.

Overall, The Mind Museum is a must-see for everyone. It is the first in the Philippines that brings together science, art and design in one venue. The Mind Museum is located at J.Y. Campos Park, 3rd Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. You can buy your tickets online here.