These unusual museum concepts offer unconventional visitor experiences. While traditional museums can be extremely educational, not everyone finds these visits to be an enjoyable experience. These unusual galleries are designed to add a level of fun and excitement to the conventional museum experience.
While many adults are interested in visiting museums, children are often less enthusiastic about such outings. In order to make the museum experience more enjoyable for children, many galleries have sought to cater to a younger audience. These kid-friendly facilities include candy-inspired museums, cartoon dog museums and multi-sensory art museums.
Beyond catering to the needs of children, many museums have sought to draw in the types of consumers that would not usually visit a traditional gallery. In order to appeal to a different type of audience, many museums have designed unique installations and interactive exhibits that make the experience more entertaining. Some of these unusual museum features include sensory light installations, edible art exhibits and investigative museum-exploring apps.
78 Unusual Museum Concepts
From Electronic Music Museums to Candy-Inspired Children's Museums:
Katherine Pendrill — Sep 17, 2015 — Art & Design
78
Optical Art Museums
The Museum of Illusions Opens its Doors in Zagreb, Croatia
77
Antique Adult Toy Museums
See How Pleasure Toys Evolved with the Good Vibrations Museum
76
Submerged Mountain Museums
This Massive Concrete Structure is Partially Embedded in a Mountainside
75
Surreal Retail Display Museums
This Hermes Window Display is Made Using a Colorful Paper Medium
74
Surreal Digital Museums
The 'From Monet to Cézanne' Exhibit Explores French Impressionists
73
Mirrored Art Installations
Jeppe Hein Creates Large-Scale Reflective Sculptures
72
Interactive Art Museums
Manila’s Art in Island Gallery Immerses Art Lovers into Paintings
71
Elevated Museum Architecture
The National Art Museum of China by Jean Nouvel is Stunning
70
Transparent Mountainside Museums
The Aspen Art Museum Boasts a Stunning Timber Facade
69
Futuristic Cavernous Structures
The Louisiana State Museum by Trahan Architects is Icily Sci-Fi
68
Candy-Inspired Children's Museums
The Sweetness by Sports Harnesses What Kids Love Most
67
Gorgeously Sloping Architecture
Zaha Hadid's Heydar Aliyev Center Wins Design of the Year
66
Robotic Museum Guides
The De Young Museum is Making Their Tours Accessible to All
65
Lifelike Wooden Restaurant Installations
Roxy Paine Created an Entire Fast Food Joint Out of Wood
64
Electronic Music Museums
The Museum of Modern Electronic Music is to Open in Frankfurt
63
Sustainably Monolithic Museums
Museo Maya de América is the Largest Museum in Central America
62
Underwater Museums
'Underwater Museums' in the Baltic Sea Aims to Preserve Maritime Monuments
61
Interactive Art Museums
This 3D Museum in Hong Kong Lets Visitors be Part of the Anime Artwork
60
Mathematical Gallery Designs
Zaha Hadid Will Design the London Science Museum Mathematics Gallery
59
Sea Creature-Inspired Museums
The Shanghai Natural History Museum Takes After the Nautilus Shell
58
Virtual Reality Museums
Reload Studios is Bringing Famous Artwork Out of Museums and Into Homes
57
Serpentine Mountainside Museums
The Maison des Fondateurs Features a Spiraling Design
56
Distorted Experience Installations
BMW Collaborated with Barber & Osgerby to Create a Piece of Art
55
Neon Sign Art Exhibitions
This Rome Exhibition Features Showcases the Work of Maurizio Nannucci
54
Edible Art Exhibits
The Art Fund is Raising Money for Exhibits with Edible Art
53
Sensory Light Installations
Liz West's Latest Art Project Features Technicolored Elements
52
Irregular Opening Museums
The Museo Juan Soriano is a Large Blocked Building
51
All-Blue Museums
The Cachaça Museum in Brazil Consists of a Steady Hue
50
Experience-Focused Museums
The Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus Incorporates Nature and Design
49
Delicately Designed Museums
The Hungarian Museum of Architecture Would Renew Budapest's City Park
48
Ridiculously Tiny Museums
Somerville, MA Mayor Joseph Curtatone Unveiled the Minuscule Museum
47
Digital Museum Experiences
The Anne Frank House Website Boasts a 3D Virtual Tour
46
Sensory Sculpture Installations
Gratitude by Ernesto Neto is Located in the Aspen Art Museum
45
Personal Trinket Museums
Nick Cave is Making a Museum of Sentimental Items of Arguable Importance
44
Animal Print Car Museums
The Design of the Petersen Automotive Museum Resembles Zebra Stripes
43
Historical Excrement Museums
The Museum of Shit in Italy Explores the History of Poop
42
Rocky Museum Installations
The Riverbed Installation Brings the Great Outdoors Inside
41
Flame-Inspired Copper Facades
The Museum of Fire in Poland is Inspired by the Natural Phenomenon
40
Mine-Converted Museums
Salina Turda Pays Epic Tribute to Salt Mining in Romania
39
Aquatic Museum Interiors
Lisbon's Water Museum Reflects Its Subject Matter in a Design That Flows
38
Geometric Museum Proposals
Comac Uses a Cubed Structure for the Berlin Natural Science Museum
37
Distorted Memory Museums
The False Memory Archive Asks Us: Have We Been Living a Lie?
36
Celebratory Bike Centers
Tokyo’s Bicycle Culture Center is Stunning and Welcoming
35
Virtual Museum Exhibits
The Virtual Reality Weekend Transports Museum Visitors to the Bronze Age
34
Palatial Baroque Museums
The New Cultural House of Pinhel is a Stunning Revamped Palace
33
Hindu Deity Exhibits
The Metropolitan's Museum Exhibit Depicts Lord Vishnu's Lion Avatar
32
Blind-Guiding Museum Exhibitions
Touch the Prado Lets the Visually Impaired Feel Art Copies
31
Giant Bird Installations
Sipho Mabona Presents Giant Avian Origami at Tropenmuseum
30
Complimentary Contemporary Galleries
The Broad Museum in Los Angeles will Open in September 2015
29
Medieval Modern Museums
The Waterford Medieval Museum Fuses a Modern Exterior with Ancient Ruins
28
Branded Toilet Museums
This Japanese Museum Showcases the Toilet History of Toto Ltd.
27
Literary Detective Exhibits
The Museum of London's Sherlock Holmes Exhibit Explores the Series
26
Contemporary Museum Interiors
The New Santo Antonio Museum in Lisbon Replaces the Original
25
Subterranean Salt Museums
This Salt Mine Has Been Converted into a Museum
24
Cartoon Dog Museums
Japan's Snoopy Museum Will Idolize a Fictive Comic Strip Dog
23
Triangular Museum Architecture
Tadao Ando Builds the Asia Museum of Modern Art
22
Gridded Patterned Architecture
The Yenikapi Project Features Complex Walkways
21
Minimalist Concrete Museums
The Fresach Diocesan Museum Complements a Nearby Church
20
Childlike Glass Museum Architecture
COORDINATION ASIA's Kids Museum of Glass is Whimsical
19
Tragedy-Commemorating Museums
The 9/11 Memorial Museum Honors the Lost Lives of Many
18
Investigative Museum-Exploring Apps
The ScopifyROM App Lets Users Explore History
17
Cheesy Museum Pop-Ups
Castello's Pop-Up Cheese Tasting Appeals to Multiple Senses
16
Green-Roofed Museums
The Shekou Museum Blends Well with Nature
15
Glass-Enclosed Museum Facades
The Vincent Van Gogh Museum Will Soon Unveil Its New Spacious Foyer
14
Foggy Museum Installations
FOGSCAPE #47412 by Fujiko Nakaya Creates an Eerie Effect
13
Artistic Museum Renovations
The Renovations to the Clark Art Institute Have Finally Been Revealed
12
Sandstone-Inspired Architecture
The Southern Utah Museum of Art Has Natural Influences
11
Skyline-Mirroring Installations
The Dan Graham Design Sits Atop the Metropolitan Museum of Art
10
Sustainable Science Museums
Moatasem Esmat Gives the Science Museum an Upgraded Look
9
Redefined Glass Museums
MoMA's Public Geometric Glass Structure Redefines the Traditional Museum
8
Homey Museum Installations
Mauritshuis' Museum Campaign Turns a Gallery into a Home Setting
7
Lifelike Limb Installations
The Dutch Silver Museum by Tinker Features Floating Arm Sculptures
6
Pyramid Architecture Add-Ons
The Harvard Art Museum Nears the End of its Project Expansion
5
National Supercar Museums
This Corvette Museum Plans to Display Sinkhole Damaged Cars for Fans
4
Salacious Phallic Museums
The Icelandic Phallogical Museum Holds a Casting Call
3
Interactive Toy-Built Museums
Denmark's LEGO Museum Will Be Designed with Thousands of Blocks
2
Woven Timber Museums
The Aspen Art Museum by Shigeru Ban Features a Latticed Side
1
Multi-Sensory Art Museums
The Tate Sensorium Invites Guests to Experience Art in a New Way
Related Ideas
Venetian-Inspired Museum Designs
The Conceptual Floating Glass Museum is AI-Generated
Immersive 3D Fashion Exhibits
Portal:M x Virtual Fashion Exhibition Host a Phygital Experience
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
Concept Perfume Stores
Lush's Perfume Library Provides Consultations with Fragrance Experts
Conceptual Craft Beer Bottles
Sour Glass Encourages Thoughtful Drinking Experiences
Customizable Retail Experiences
M&M'S® Debuts New Personalized Offerings to Delight Consumers
Blurry Abstract Photography Exhibits
Hiroshi Sugimoto Displays the Optical Allusion Exhibition
Multi-Sensory Flagship Stores
KATE Shibuya Offers Immersive Digital and Physical Experiences
Playful Modern Art Shows
Brent Estabrook Debuts 'Storytime' at the Maddox Gallery in Switzerland
Miniature Endearing Souvenir Capsules
The Little Ghibili Museum Capsule Has Adorable Souvenies
Edgy Futuristic Activations
The Oakley Exoplanetary Bunker in Paris is Otherworldly
Kaleidoscopic Kindergarten Buildings
The Tianshui Kindergarten by SAKO Architects is Whimsical
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Immersive Jewelry Exhibitions
The TIFFANY & CO. Tiffany Wonder Exhibition in Tokyo is Engaging
Immersive Living Room Concepts
Moooi Presents an Immersive Journey for Milan Design Week
Immersive Light Art Installations
Olafur Elisson Presents Your Psychoacoustic Light Ensemble
Content-Inspired Physical Retail Experience
Netflix House Creates a Space for Fans to Buy Merch
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
Immersive Gondola Displays
ColourPop is Getting a New Immersive Makeover at ULTA
Kaleidoscopic Lazy Rivers
Kaleidoscope Kavern Features an Immersive Multimedia Tunnel
Psychedelic Sculptural Art Installations
The Frank Stella: Recent Sculpture Exhibition Opens in NY
Wonderous Art Installations
Olafur Eliasson’s 'Your Psychoacoustic Light Ensemble' is Immersive
Urban Sneaker-Inspired Exhibits
Museum of Graffiti Introduces the Sneaker Stories Pop-Up Exhibit
Colorful Educational Art Installations
Mario Cucinella Architects Displays Sparking Change
Nostalgia-Inspired Experiences
Bubble Planet Creates a Sensory Journey with Distinct Bubble Rooms
Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums
Qatar Museums Unveils Official Images of the Lusail Museum
Multisensory Toy Boxes
The Janod Boxes Stimulate Sight, Touch, Hearing and More
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Artfully Functional Synergy Exhibitions
Muller Van Severen Presents the Frames Exhibition
Multi-Sensory Art Experiences
Arcadia Earth Toronto & Benjamin Von Wong for A Sustainable Future
Vibrant Inclusive Playground Exhibitions
Wade and Leta Presents the Falling Into Place Exhibition
Gamified In-Airport Activations
Haribo's Mobile Games Gives People of All Ages the Chance to Win
Kids' Entertainment Initiatives
Yoto x CF Shopping Centers will Offer Summer Programming for Kids
Seoul-Themed Immersive Digital Exhibitions
London Opens the New Digital Delight Installation
Orb Lighting Installations
Teamlab's Mangrove Island is an Innovative Display of Lights and Color
Virtual Pub Museums
Heineken Pub Museums Spotlight Important Cultural Locations
Perception-Challenging Art Exhibitions
Raise the Moral Studio Presents the Becoming Familiar Show
Climate Crisis Awareness Exhibitions
Kinetic Singapore Unveils the School of Tomorrow Exhibition
Dynamic Art Exhibitions
The 'Art in Motion' Exhibition Features Moving Artworks
Forgotten Theme-Park Art Exhibitions
Luna Luna Presents the Forgotten Fantasy Exhibition in LA
Revamped Museum Brand Identities
The Brooklyn Museum Has Updated Its Branding Aesthetic
Town-Like Classroom Designs
Atelier Apeiron Designs the Kindergarten of Museum Forest Building
Immersive Art Escape Rooms
Daydream Adventures Traps Players in an Enchanted Forest or Sci-Fi Cave
Paper-Inspired Artful Museums
Bjarke Ingels Group Designed the Museum for Papirkunst
Kilometer-Long Museums
Junya Ishigami Introduces the Zaishui Art Museum Along a Lake
Burgeoning Psychedelic Art Movements
The Chambers Project/PACT Embrace the Psychedelic Movement
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Multisensory Cocktail Menus
Synaesthesia Inspired the Spectrum Cocktail Menu at Fitz’s
Communication-Based Immersive Exhibitions
Intuit Mailchimp and Design Museum Present Email is Dead
Unique Rotating Art Galleries
NUMU Boutique Hotel Features an Exhibit by David Troice
Monumental Cultural Art Installations
Nicole Nomsa Moyo Unveiled the Pearl Jam Art Installtion
Designer-Hosted Brooklyn Pop-Ups
The Gustaf Westman in New York is a Unique Museum Experience
Thematic Large-Scale Light Installations
SPOOKY AT ILLUMI Offers a Unique Family Experience
Mall-Based Indoor Adventure Parks
Elev8 Fun is Coming to Miami International Mall
Gallery-Like Elevated Retail Designs
Format Architecture Office Designs the Leica Store & Gallery
Collaborative Auction Experiences
Hospitality Meets Collectible Art Through This Auction Event
Custom Inspirational Quotes
Muse Combines Quotes with Creative Themes for Social Media
Savory-Sweet Dessert Bagels
Museum of Ice Cream & Ess-A-Bagel Collaborated on an Ice-A-Bagel
Cutting-Edge Digital Art Exhibitions
Arte Museum Las Vegas Offers Exclusive Deals to Residents
Sustainably Built Public Attractions
National Geographic Society Unveils the Museum of Exploration
Playful Interactive Galleries
PLAY by American Express Platinum Reimagines Toys as Art Pieces
Discarded Toys-Created Homes
Wallmakers Designs the Toy Storey Home with Repurposed Toys
Sensory Explorative Art Exhibitions
Chromasonic Presents the Making Sense of Color Exhibition
Hyperrealistic Food Art Exhibitions
Japan House London Presents Looks Delicious! Installation
Lego-Themed Escape Rooms
'Lost' Invites Players to Select One of Two Immersive Storylines
Immersive Art-Technology Installations
WNDR Museum Boston Will Feature 20 Exhibitions
Candy-Scented Sensory Toys
Sloomoo x Hi-Chew Slime Smells Like Fruity Chewlet Flavors
Greenery-Packed Museum Buildings
This Science Museum is Designed Around a Central Park
AI-Generated Elizabethan Experiences
The Museum of Shakespeare Will Recreate 16th Century England
Mexican Designer Collaborative Exhibitions
Hall Haus Presents the Design Mixtape Exhibition
Sensorial Art Exhibitions
Gardens by the Bay Presents the 'Impressions of Monet' Experience
Iconic Doll-Inspired Exhibitions
Barbie: The Exhibition Opens at London's Design Museum
Immersive Garden Bar Experiences
BLOOM Explores America's First Botanical Garden in NYC
Viewing Box Cultural Centers
The Center for Arts & Innovation Hosts Events and Education Spaces
Insect Habitat Toys
Smart Lab Toys' Insect Inspector Lab Bug Playground Encourages STEM Learning
Dynamic Immersive Play Museums
LEGO Group Presents the Superhero Studios Initiative in Paris
Artful Soft-Pink Dining Rooms
The Gallery at Sketch in London Boasts Subtle Vintage Touches
Experimental Cuboid Exhibition Spaces
Sār Unveils the Experimental Sār Residence by Girish Doshi
Engaging Youth-Focused Platforms
V&A Introduces the Mused Website for Gen Z Digital Natives
Weightless Pavilion Museum Wings
Snøhetta and Alley Poyner Macchietto Expand the Joslyn Art Museum
Exploratory Art Exhibits
The Saga of the Department Stores Exhibit Explores Shopping’s Evolution
Active Family Restaurant Experiences
The Chuck E. Cheese Adventure Zone Concept is Engaging
Gummy-Studded Ice Creams
Dadu Ice Cream Puts Gummy Bears in Ice Cream
Natural Japanese Art Galleries
Brazil's Yayoi Kusama Gallery Features a Nature-Inspired Design
Crystalline Chinese Museum Buildings
The 'Space Crystal' Building Looks Like An Otherworldly Rock
Contemporary Music Office Redesigns
M Moser Associates Revamps the Sony Music Office in Mumbai
Pickle-Flavored Candy Floss
There's Pickle Cotton Candy at the CNE 2023
Self-Designed Exhibition Spaces
Kiki & Joost Adds a New Installation Space to Eindhoven Studio
Mesmerizing Fluid Art Installations
Dutch Invertuals Creates the Flow Fountain Installation
Screen-Printed Chocolate Tiled Rooms
MoMA Unveils the New Chocolate Room Exhibition by Ed Ruscha
Burger-Inspired Ice Creams
So Cute Ice Cream's Cheeseburger Ice Cream is Served with a Pickle
Live-In Art Gallery Homes
Casa Galeria is a Home That Doubles as an Art Gallery
Spaceship-Like Robot Museums
Melike Altınışık Architects Designs the Seoul Robot & AI Museum
Outdoor Wildlife Exhibitions
The Great Elephant Migration Exhibit Features Life-Size Sculptures
Contemporary Collectible Designs
COLLECTIBLE Will Debut in New York City in September
White Concrete Boxy Museums
Thomas Phifer Designs the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw
Dynamic Installation Science Museums
MAD has Designed the New Hainan Science Museum
Playful Design Exhibitions
Dina Adlouni and Tarlan Vaziri Farahani Presents Mushy Exhibit
Immersive Audio-Visual Installations
180 the Strand Unveils Its Latest Exhibition, 'Reverb'
Aluminum-Clad Gallery Redesigns
OMA Remodels the Gallery of the Kings at the Museo Egizio
Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits
Abelardo Morell Presents the New Ground Exhibition
Scientific Communal Museums
Stefano Boeri Architetti Designs the Museum of Technology in Xi'an
Interactive AR Galleries
Chips Ahoy's Happy By Design Campaign Spotlights Multicultural Artists
3D Royalty-Based Museums
The Princess Diana Museum Features a Virtually Guided Experience
Cascading Aluminum Pipe Museums
Kengo Kuma Design the Audeum Museum with an Aluminum Facade
Tradition-Focused Digital Libraries
Nestlé Brands Introduced the Living Traditions Library
Virtual Museum Queueing Systems
Philadelphia Museum of Art Taps Accesso's Virtual Queueing System
Broken Bike Lock Furniture
Design Students Showcase the People and Places Exhibition
Engaging Science-Inspired Activities
The Ontario Science Centre is Engaging Families During Winter
Museum-Replicating Puzzle Sets
LEGO Icons Presents the New Natural History Museum Set
All-White Interior Artful Galleries
Samsøe Samsøe Highlights a Blank Canvas in New Pop-Up
Playfully Vibrant Studio Spaces
Estudio Protobox Coverts a Parking Garage in Colégio Salesiano
Sensory Museum Tours
The Dock Museum in Barrow Aims to Increase Accessibility for Blind Visitors
Whimsically Vibrant Exhibitions
Wendy Maruyama and Tom Loeser Exhibit the Colorama Show
Novelty Gelato Pops
Gelatys Serves Uniquely Shaped Gelato on a Stick
History Museum Garden Renovations
London's Natural History Museum Underwent a Five-Acre Makeover
Manga-Inspired Museum Exhibits
The Museum of the Moving Image Presents a Yu-Gi-Oh! Experience
Immersive Spring-Themed Exhibits
Colors in Bloom Features 12 Immersive Rooms
Boundless Art Exhibitions
The Frameless Experience Showcases Iconic Art Beyond Reality
Ultra-Green Deadstock Stores
The Kisarazu Concept Store is Deeply Rooted in Sustainable Practices
Director-Celebrating Artful Exhibitions
London's Design Museum Hosts the World of Tim Burton
Immersive Space Exhibitions
‘Beyond the Light’ Immerses Guests in NASA’s Scientific Discoveries
Architectural Pottery Museums
1+1>2 Architects Designs the Bat Trang Pottery Museum
Playful Toy-Inspired Exhibits
The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity Debuts Toys & Play Exhibit
Unconventional Foodie Magazines
Food& Magazine Explores the Weird and Wonderful World of Food
Dynamic Public Artwork Installations
NEON Creates the Born to Be Wild Installation in the UK
Light Garden Installations
Imaginarium360 is an Immersive Walkthrough Garden Event
Comprehensive Museum Visitor Apps
The Chester Beatty Museum & accesso Refine Visitor Experiences
Immersive Balloon Experiences
The Balloon Story Pop-Up Event is Whimsical and Imaginative
High-Tech Center Renovation Projects
Two Studios Join Forces to Update the Centre Pompidou
Wooden Roof Japanese Museums
Shigeru Ban Designs the Toyota City Museum in Japan
Unseen Artist Masterpieces
A Hidden Chamber Reveals Michelangelo's Untold Works
Dual Level Concrete Galleries
Morphosis Designs the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas
Computer Evolution Museums
Evolution Museum Explores Iconic Computers Through History
Hopeful Design Installations
Annemoon Geurts Presents the Evolving Harmony Exhbition
Free City-Wide Museum Days
Museums Free-for-All Offers Free Admission to L.A's Museums
Slaugherhouse-Transformed Unique Museums
Cave Bureau Creates the Anthropocene Museum 9.0
Renovated Zoology Museums
London's Grant Museum of Zoology is Open After a £300,000 Makeover