Japanese Architect, Kengo Kuma unveiled plans for the Museum of Indigenous Knowledge in the Philippines. The 9,000 sq. meter museum will be built in Manila, the nation’s capital.

Kengo Kuma’s design for the exterior resembles a hollowed out rock covered with lush tropical plants. An artificial ravine will cut through the center of the structure where the complex’s  core opens up to the sky above. The cave-like design was inspired by the museum’s history exhibition, which begins at the Philippine’s Neolithic Period. The museum’s gallery spaces are below ground, accessed via an escalator unloading onto an underground piazza. In contrast with the exterior, the interior is decidedly modern showcasing golden woven-textured surfaces and glass balustrades. Other building programs include a restaurant, museum shop, public spaces at the street level and an underground parking garage at the lowest level.

“Based on its concept, we aim to build a natural and organic museum by incorporating water and greenery in the cave-shaped space, contrary to the image of museums as closed boxes. It is also an attempt to revive cohabitation of nature and history in the urban environment.”  – Kengo Kuma & Associates

The organic look of the structure will be a stark contrast to the urban fabric of Metro Manila, which has seen rapid growth as a modern metropolis in recent years. A start date for the project has not been released by the firm.