Hosted in Barcelona in 2004, the Forum event somewhat initiated the urban renovation of an area comprised between the eastern end of the Avinguda Diagonal street, the city waterfront, and the Ronda del Litoral previously, this 40-hectare site was a sort of no man’s land, occupied by old industrial buildings and disused technical infrastructures.Īerial view of the Forum Park area during the Forum Universal de les Cultures 2004 (photo: Almadavarez), and two views of the Museu Blau from south-west and north-west the tall white building in the last two pictures is the Diagonal ZeroZero skyscraper by Emba Estudi Massip-Bosch architects (photos © Inexhibit) Located in the Forum Park, on Barcelona’s waterfront, the museum’s building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron after winning an architectural competition held in 2000, was originally conceived as the main venue of the Forum Universal de les Cultures. The Museu Blau is housed in an iconic triangular blue building (hence its name) designed by acclaimed Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron.Īlong with the Museu Blau, the Barcelona Natural History museum network comprises other three centers in the city: the Martorell Museum, the Laboratory of Nature, and the Montjuïc Botanical Garden yet, the Museu Blau is by far the most popular among them.Īerial view of the Museu Blau in Barcelona photo: Detlef Schobert The building by Herzog & de Meuron Before being converted into a museum in 2011, the structure was popularly known as Forum Building. The Museu Blau is the main center of the Museu de Ciències Naturals, the Natural History Museum of Barcelona.