With the rise of starchitect culture in recent decades, there has been a subsequent rise in the number of museums designed by celebrity architects. (It was believed that if a big name was behind a building, it would attract more attention, and in turn, visitors. Makes sense.) Click through to check out 10 of the most eye-catching modern museums on the planet — including a few that are still currently in progress — and we think you’ll see why it works.
Centre Pompidou Metz. Designed by Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines
Centre Pompidou, Paris. Designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers
The Design Museum Holon. Designed by Ron Arad
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Designed by Frank Gehry
The Imperial War Museum North, Manchester. Designed by Daniel Libeskind
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki. Designed by Steve Holl
MAXXI – National Museum of the 21st Century Arts, Rome. Designed by Zaha Hadid
Miami Art Museum. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron (in progress)
Milwaukee Art Museum, Quadracci Pavilion. Designed by Santiago Calatrava
National Museum of Qatar. Designed by Jean Nouvel (in progress)
