Museum of Natural Sciences

PROJECT: Restoration of the National Museum of Natural Sciences

The Natural History Museum of Madrid was founded in the 18th century, one of the first in Europe, as the Royal Cabinet of Natural History. Originally intended to occupy the current Prado Museum, designed by Villanueva, it ended up in the north wing of the Palace of Industries and Arts at the beginning of the 20th century. By the time the museum's restoration began, little remained of the original building's simple, open, and symmetrical layout. Nevertheless, it seems to have survived remarkably well, and the area now dedicated to the museum is the part that has most faithfully preserved its original design and construction.

The intervention criteria focused on increasing the surface area of ​​the exhibition halls and research/administration areas while respecting the characteristics and qualities of the existing structure. This was coupled with an emphasis on the novelty and integration of the interventions, differentiating the pre-existing elements from the new additions. The design also prioritized flexibility and neutrality to facilitate future museological interventions.