Museum of Tomorrow

At the tip of Pier Mauá, jutting out into Guanabara Bay, the Museum of Tomorrow is a science museum built around one question: what future are we creating? Its white, organically shaped building has become a symbol of the new Rio and of the revival of the port area.

Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the museum opened in December 2015 as a centerpiece of Porto Maravilha, the port area’s revitalization project. The district, once dominated by abandoned warehouses and the Perimetral elevated highway, since demolished, gained squares, museums and places to walk.

The main exhibition is arranged in five large areas — Cosmos, Earth, Anthropocene, Tomorrows and Us — tracing the story of the universe, of life and of human impact on the planet, through to possible paths for the coming decades. Expect projections, interactive installations and plenty of data on climate and sustainability.

The building itself is meant to set an example: the roof carries solar panels on large movable “wings” that follow the sun, and water from the bay is used in the cooling system. It is architecture that speaks to the museum’s theme.

Outside, the outing continues: the museum is surrounded by reflecting pools and gardens and opens onto the Orla Conde, a bayside promenade that runs past Praça Mauá. Nearby, on the Boulevard Olímpico, is the huge Etnias mural, painted by Eduardo Kobra for the 2016 Olympic Games.