Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands will open the world’s first ArtScience Museum next month, the latest attraction at its $5.5 billion gambling complex. Dubbed the “Welcoming Hand of Singapore,” the museum features 10 “fingers” anchored by a unique round base in the middle.
The design of each finger reveals different gallery spaces featuring skylights at the “fingertips” that illuminate the dramatically curved interior walls. Additionally, the museum’s dish-like roof channels rainwater through the central atrium of the building creating a 35-meter water drop into a small, reflecting pool. The rainwater is then recycled for use in the building’s restrooms.
Designed by world-renowned architect Moshie Safadie, the ArtScience Museum features 21 gallery spaces totaling 50,000 square feet (6,000 square meters) that will deliver exhibits from art and science, media and technology, to design and architecture.
The galleries will host traveling shows as well as a permanent collection. The permanent exhibition includes objects representing accomplishments of art and science throughout the ages, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Flying Machine, a Kongming Lantern, and a high-tech robotic fish.
ArtScience Museum
Photo credit: William Cho, Andrew JK Tan