Bjarke Ingels Group and Vikar and Lukacs Architecture Studio’s design brings a 23,000-square-metre natural history museum into Debrecen’s Great Forest

The proposed Hungarian Natural History Museum in Debrecen has received two awards at the 14th Annual Architizer A+Awards. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in collaboration with Hungarian practice Vikar and Lukacs Architecture Studio, the project was named Jury Winner in the Unbuilt Landscape category and Popular Choice Winner in the Unbuilt Institutional category.

The museum meets the forest, outdoor spaces merge with open-air exhibitions, and science interweaves with history and the spirit of natural heritage
Photo credit: BIG

Selected through an international competition, the 23,000-square-metre museum is planned for Debrecen’s historic Great Forest. Rather than treating the building as a separate object within the landscape, the design incorporates the surrounding forest into its architecture. Three overlapping landscaped ribbons rise from the forest floor, creating what the architects describe as a manmade hill within a clearing.

The roof, covered with native plant species, extends the forest canopy naturally, encouraging the return of flora and fauna to an area that was once an integral part of the city’s forest
Photo credit: BIG

The new exhibition space not only showcases natural history but also contributes to its preservation
Photo credit: BIG

The building will combine exhibition galleries with spaces for education, research and public use. Its mass-timber structure will be partially embedded into the landscape and clad in locally sourced timber, further connecting the museum to its setting.

A place where science meets the public, education connects with the community, and sustainability aligns with innovation
Photo credit: BIG

The institution will be a centre for shaping nature conservation attitudes, serving simultaneously the dissemination of scientific knowledge, community experiences, and the building of a sustainable future
Photo credit: BIG

The relationship between architecture and nature forms the central idea of the proposal. The project acknowledges the environmental impact inherent in construction and seeks to mitigate it through both the building’s design and its relationship with the site. Its planted roof will use native species to extend the forest canopy across the building, with the aim of supporting the return of local flora and fauna to an area that was historically part of the city’s woodland.

Fully aware that construction inevitably has environmental impacts, the museum was designed with a responsible, sustainability-focused approach
Photo credit: BIG

The aim is to leave the site in a better condition than it was found, both for people and for nature
Photo credit: BIG

Sustainability is also integrated into the museum’s operational strategy. The building is designed to generate part of its own energy while reducing its environmental impact and harmful emissions. In this sense, the museum is conceived not simply as a venue for displaying natural history, but as an example of how architecture can mediate between scientific research, public education and the natural environment.