# MUNCH Museum Architecture Integrates Urban Views into Gallery Circulation The Oslo museum utilizes a dual-zone design to balance art preservation with city engagement. - **Source:** [Yanko Design](https://brifing.si/source/41d28791-ef47-4e0b-a40a-2a5efca0c11b) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/15bb845f-3fbf-4502-a869-fbcdeb5c116d ## Distinct Architectural Zoning Strategy The MUNCH Museum in Oslo, designed by Estudio Herreros, utilizes a unique dual-zone layout. The building separates static zones, which house sensitive artworks, from dynamic zones designed for visitor circulation. This structural division ensures that exhibition halls remain protected while public corridors offer expansive, evolving views of the surrounding city landscape. ## Environmental Control and Efficiency The separation of zones serves a critical environmental function beyond aesthetics. Airlocks positioned between the static and dynamic areas allow for precise climate control within the galleries. This configuration enables natural ventilation in public circulation spaces, acknowledging that human visitors and delicate paintings require different indoor environmental conditions for optimal preservation. ## Vertical Circulation as Experience The museum’s tower transforms the movement between its 11 exhibition halls into a curated experience. Rather than treating hallways as leftover space, the architects designed an ascending public route. This path connects the lobby to upper terraces, ensuring that visitors engage with Oslo’s urban setting throughout their entire journey inside. ## Textured Aluminum Facade Design The exterior of the 13-floor institution features undulating, perforated aluminum panels that provide a textured surface. Manufacturer Lindner supplied 4,018 of these panels, which act as solar screening while maintaining a sense of transparency. This rippled profile adds significant depth to the facade, preventing the large structure from appearing as a flat wrapper. ## Logistical Integration of Cladding Beyond its visual impact, the building's skin serves a practical logistical purpose. Lindner confirmed that 100 of the aluminum panels are operable, allowing large artworks to be lifted directly into the building. This detail highlights how museum architecture must balance aesthetic requirements with the demanding operational needs of managing a major collection. ## Public Space in the Lobby The architects conceived the lobby as a covered public space that extends the museum's core philosophy. By encouraging gathering and outward-looking perspectives, the design positions the institution as more than just a storage facility for art. It serves as a communal hub that integrates the museum visit into the daily urban life. ## Project Collaboration and Timeline Opened on October 22, 2021, in the Bjørvika waterfront district, the project was led by Juan Herreros and Jens Richter of Estudio Herreros. Local firm LPO Arkitekter provided essential support during the development process. The collaboration resulted in a landmark institution dedicated to Edvard Munch’s work and broader cultural programming efforts. ## Redefining Museum Visitor Flow The MUNCH Museum demonstrates that circulation can be a central architectural idea rather than a secondary concern. By prioritizing the journey between galleries, the design gives visitor attention a clear purpose. This approach ensures that the museum experience is defined by both the art collection and the city’s presence outside. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.yankodesign.com/2026/11/09/the-munch-museum-turns-the-journey-between-galleries-into-a-city-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-munch-museum-turns-the-journey-between-galleries-into-a-city-view — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._