The building

The Biomuseo is located on the Amador Causeway, a prominent area at the entrance to the Panama Canal on the Pacific Ocean. From the Biomuseo you can see the skyline of the modern city, the Casco Antiguo, Ancon Hill and the Bridge of the Americas.

The architecture

Designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Biomuseo is his first work in Latin America. The building is designed to tell the story of how the Isthmus of Panama emerged from the sea, connecting two continents, splitting a great ocean in two and changing the biodiversity of the planet forever.

Gehry used vibrant colours and irregular shapes to reflect Panama's natural diversity. The building features an open-air public atrium covered by colourful metal canopies to protect visitors from frequent rainfall.

The architect

Frank Gehry was born on February 28, 1929 in Toronto, Canada. He is a Canadian-American architect known for his innovative designs. Gehry studied architecture at the University of Southern California and urban planning at Harvard.

In 1962 he founded his own firm, Frank O. Gehry & Associates. His work is characterised by the use of unconventional materials and sculptural forms, including buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The Biomuseo is his only work in Latin America.

Gehry has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Pritzker Prize. His creative approach and ability to transform urban spaces have made him an influential figure in contemporary architecture.