When it comes to learning, few places will give you education and enjoyment like a good museum. They might have been our least favorite places to go on field trips as children, but now that we're older, it's much easier to appreciate the art, history, and architecture you can find within their walls. And even as sites like YouTube begin to rise in popularity when it comes to absorbing a lot of sights and information in very little time, the good news is that museums are still popping up all over the world.
It's amazing what you can find inside a museum. From famous paintings like the Mona Lisa, to scientific and interactive exhibits, to unbelievably detailed massive wood carvings like this one, there's something for everyone inside these buildings. And with all the amazing creations that people are making every single day, it's no wonder that more and more museums are opening to give them the attention they deserve.
There are lots of museums that have opened this year or are scheduled to reach completion within the next couple of years, and if you take an interest in travel and culture, you need to see them. But with these structures, it's not just what's on the inside that's incredible — take a look at the beautiful architecture of these new museums, and make sure to fit them into your schedule if you ever travel to any of these locations.
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1. Whitney Museum (New York)
The museum itself isn't new, but the new building has enabled the Whitney Museum to have 50,000 square feet of indoor galleries and 13,000 square feet of space on the outside for exhibitions. The Whitney is well-known in New York for its vast collections of contemporary and modern art, and the new building will allow it to showcase even more of some of today's best work.
2. Aga Khan Museum (Toronto)
Designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki and founded by Muslim spiritual leader Aga Khan, this beautiful museum with a modern design was built to showcase traditional Islamic art. Its creator hopes that it will help create more understanding and tolerance between the Islamic world and others who hope to better understand it.
3. The Louvre Abu Dhabi
It looks more like something out of a sci-fi novel than an actual museum, but the Louvre Abu Dhabi is set to open to the public in December of this year. And from the looks of it, it's going to be a pretty big deal — the museum will showcase about 300 pieces from artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Monet, and Andy Warhol, all loaned by various French museums.
4. The Museum of Tomorrow (Rio de Janeiro)
Brazil is quickly becoming a major player in the global tech industry, and to show it off, they are constructing the Museum of Tomorrow to be finished at some point in 2015. The building focuses on science and technology, but it separates itself from other similar museums by being very interactive with its visitors, showing them how their choices will help impact the future of our planet.
5. Biomuseo (Panama)
Its exterior has a funky geometric design, but this museum focuses on all the amazing plants and animals that Panama has to offer. Nature-lovers will also enjoy the building's biodiversity park, which enables you to get up close and personal with some of the country's beautiful flora.
6. The Broad (Los Angeles)
This museum doesn't just look futuristic — it's also going to introduce a whole new world of art to California. Rather than just showing off art pieces like a traditional museum, The Broad is going to feature work created by philanthropists and act as a place for cultural leaders and artists to come together to bring attention to major world issues.
7. Toyama Glass Art Museum (Japan)
You'll be able to visit this museum in August 2015. The outside might look very futuristic, but the inside will be decorated with locally sourced wood, giving the museum the feel of a cozy library. The museum's founders wanted to give the building a feeling of "transparency," which, if you ask me, is pretty fitting for a place that showcases glass.
8. Qatar National Museum
It won't be open until 2016, but when it does, this massive museum is going to be a huge attraction. It's going to be 450,000 square feet, and it will contain research laboratories and a garden filled with native plants in addition to all the exhibits dedicated to celebrating Qatar's culture. And coolest of all, it will be right next to the royal family's palace!
9. The Oita Prefectural Art Museum (Japan)
This gorgeous museum will soon open on Japan's island of Kyushu, where it will showcase art, food, and dance performances. Its open design features a bamboo facade that fits in perfectly with its unique and modern style.
10. Shenzhen Cultural Complex (China)
It won't be open until 2017, but this cultural center will have an art gallery, a science museum, a youth center, and even a mall when it reaches completion in Longcheng Park. It will be over a million square feet in size, so there will be plenty of things to do if you decide to visit.
11. The National Gallery (Singapore)
If you think this structure looks more like a government building than a museum, there's a reason for that: it was once the Supreme Court and City Hall for Singapore. Now, it's being transformed into a space to show off artwork from 19th century to present day Singapore. It will open to the public in November of this year.
12. The Latin American Art Museum (Miami)
To showcase all the incredible work that has been done by Latin Americans, the LAAM is being built in Miami and is scheduled to open its doors in 2016. Its architecture will take advantage of the hot Florida climate by being optimally designed for air circulation and sun exposure.
Ningbo Urban Planning Center (China)
The beautiful but unusual design for this building was inspired by a traditional ribbon dance from China. The museum will focus on exhibits surrounding urban growth and modern development.
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