Hungarian Museum of Natural History,
design: BIG
Hungary's second-largest city, Debrecen, is home to the new headquarters of the Hungarian Museum of Natural History, designed by architectural firm BIG- Bjarke Ingels Group. The 23,000-square-meter facility will be located in the Great Forest (Nagyerdő), a historic area in the north of the city that has been the green heart of the region for centuries. The project, implemented in cooperation with local and international partners, will create a space based on three intertwining landscape ribbons that rise from the forest floor, combining public, scientific and educational functions. The museum's innovative form and its harmonious integration into its natural surroundings herald a facility that is poised to become a showcase for Debrecen and a key element of the government's 2030 cultural development strategy.
The Hungarian Museum of Natural History in Debrecen is poised to become a landmark of the city and a key element of the government's cultural development strategy until 2030
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
context and location - the Great Forest as a backdrop for modern architecture
The new museum is being built on the site of a former sports field, located on the edge of the Great Forest, which has served as Debrecen's natural recreational and environmental backdrop for centuries. The choice of this location is not accidental - the Great Forest, or Nagyerdő, with its rich history and biodiversity, provides an ideal backdrop for an institution dedicated to natural history. The project was entrusted to BIG in cooperation with the Hungarian office of Vikár és Lukács Építés Stúdió, as well as the companies Museum Studio and TYPSA, which brought their experience in the design of museum and technical spaces. The facility will replace the museum's previous headquarters in Budapest, which is part of the Hungarian government's broader vision to decentralize cultural institutions and strengthen Debrecen's role as a regional center for education and science.
The new museum is being built on the site of a former sports field, located on the edge of the Great Forest
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
The museum's space has been designed with a variety of functions in mind. It will feature both permanent and temporary exhibition halls, educational spaces, research laboratories, as well as visitor amenities such as a restaurant and library. In addition, technical and administrative facilities will be provided, making the facility a one-stop center for knowledge about the natural world. The Hungarian Museum of Natural History and the Ministry of Culture and Innovation are the commissioners of the project, seeing it as an opportunity to promote science and culture locally and internationally.
Hungarian Museum of Natural History in Debrecen - the interior will feature both permanent and temporary exhibition halls, educational spaces, research laboratories, and visitor amenities such as a restaurant and library
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
Architecture inspired by nature - Bjarke Ingels' vision
A key element of the project is its form, based on three overlapping landscape ribbons. These masses, rising and falling in rhythm with the surrounding terrain, create a structure that seems to rise from the forest floor. Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG, describes the concept this way:
Natural history is a subject that is close to me - so close that I named my oldest son Darwin. As such, it is a great honor to have been entrusted with the authorship of the Hungarian Natural History Museum in the Great Debrecen Forest. Our project was conceived as an intersection of paths and lines. Intersecting ribbons of landscape overlap to create a series of niches and habitats, halls and galleries, combining interior and exterior and intimacy in seamless continuity. The result will be a man-made hill in a forest clearing; geometrically pure but delicately organic - a fitting home for the wonders of the natural world.
Hungarian Museum of Natural History in Debrecen - a key element of the project is its form, based on three overlapping landscape ribbons
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
The museum's structure will be based on a massive timber frame, and the facade will be made of panels of charred wood, sourced locally. This choice of materials will not only emphasize the building's connection to the environment, but also fit in with the principles of sustainable construction. Part of the building will be sunk into the ground, allowing it to visually blend into the landscape of the Great Forest, while the sloping roof will open up the space to the public, offering walks and views of the city. In this way, the museum will become not only an exhibition site, but also an active part of the park, accessible to locals and tourists.
The Hungarian Museum of Natural History in Debrecen - the museum's structure will be based on a massive timber frame, and the facade will be made of panels of charred wood, sourced locally
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
sustainability and integration with the environment
Hanna Johansson, a partner at BIG, emphasizes the ecological dimension of the project:
We envisioned the Hungarian Museum of Natural History as an integrated part of the environment, both shaped by and shaping the surrounding landscape. Built of solid wood, the building features a façade of locally sourced charred wood panels that emerge from the ground, blurring the boundaries between architecture and wildlife. The museum harnesses the thermal mass of the ground and integrates on-site energy systems, including geothermal loops and photovoltaic panels, to ensure a stable indoor climate year-round. Instead of simply protecting the site, the building restores and enhances it - regenerating biodiversity while quietly adapting to its surroundings.
The use of solid wood and charred façade panels are not the only eco-friendly solutions. The building makes use of the thermal mass of the ground, geothermal systems and photovoltaic panels, allowing the interior climate to remain stable year-round with minimal energy consumption. This type of approach aims not only to protect the surrounding land, but also to regenerate it - the project aims to increase biodiversity in Nagyerdő by creating new niches and habitats within the landscape ribbons.
Hungarian Museum of Natural History in Debrecen - interior visualization
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
The museum's accessibility has been designed to integrate with the urban and natural fabric. The building will be surrounded by open plazas and winding forest paths. The main landmark will be the southern plaza, serving as a meeting space and center for community activities. This layout emphasizes the museum's openness to its surroundings, making it an accessible place for Debrecen residents and visitors alike.
Hungarian Museum of Natural History in Debrecen - project visualization
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
interior of the museum - space for learning and community
The museum's internal organization has been designed with a focus on functionality and intuitiveness. The focal point will be the reception hall, which will act as a kind of compass, directing visitors to the various exhibition wings. Five permanent galleries and one space for temporary exhibitions and public events, arranged in a radial arrangement, are planned for the facility. Above the lobby, there will be a library and restaurant with views of the treetops of the Great Forest, while an education center will be located on the lower level. The latter will include workshops, play spaces and research laboratories dedicated to students, families and academics.
Hungarian Museum of Natural History in Debrecen - interior visualization
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
This layout will allow flexible use of the space, tailored to the needs of different audiences. Permanent galleries will present collections related to natural history, while temporary exhibitions will enable the introduction of new themes and collaboration with other institutions. The education center, in turn, has the potential to become a place where natural science will be accessible in an accessible form to people of all ages.
Hungarian Museum of Natural History in Debrecen - the facility plans five permanent galleries and one space for temporary exhibitions and public events, arranged in a radial pattern
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
significance for Debrecen and the region
The new Hungarian Museum of Natural History is not only an architectural achievement, but also an investment in Debrecen's future. Moving the museum's headquarters from Budapest to Hungary's second-largest city reflects a policy of decentralization and strengthening regional cultural centers. Debrecen is expected to become a key center of education and science by 2030, and the museum will play an important role in this process. Its location in the Great Forest, combined with its modern design and eco-friendly solutions, will attract both tourists and researchers, contributing to the city's international promotion.
By 2030, Debrecen is expected to become a key center of education and science, and the museum will play an important role in this process
© BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
The BIG project is an example of architecture that combines innovation with respect for nature and the local context. Landscaped ribbons, wooden construction and open public spaces will create a building that will not dominate its surroundings, but will coexist with them in harmony. As a result, the new museum is likely to become a symbol of the contemporary approach to the design of cultural spaces - places that educate, inspire and connect people with nature.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of BIG studio.
