Post-COVID Museum Design Alternatives

COVID-19 has presented a unique opportunity to re-imagine museum design and exhibition ideas in new public environments. Guidance and suggestions are presented for existing institutions and new organizations looking for safer alternatives to visitor environments. The central thesis explores the questions, how can a museum be designed to stay open during a pandemic? And how can a re-configured museum best adapt to a cautious, post-pandemic world?

Major museums serve communities as institutions that house collections of artifacts and display objects for historical, artistic, cultural, and scientific purposes. Many of these institutions are located in urban areas. In recent decades, museums have pivoted away from research and specialized activities toward serving the general public with educational exhibits, often designed to entertain as well as enlighten. This shift in visitor-focus has provided some museums with additional revenue – from increased admissions, event sales, and venue rental.

Reference Documents

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
Arthur C. Clarke

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.”
Albert Einstein