UNESCO's Baobab-Inspired Virtual Museum Unveiled

Francis Kéré’s design for the virtual UNESCO museum dedicated to stolen cultural objects. COURTESY OF UNESCO AND KÉRÉ ARCHITECTURE.

The realization of UNESCO's prospective virtual museum featuring pilfered cultural artifacts has advanced significantly. UNESCO, formally known as The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has entered into a collaboration with international entities, including Interpol, for the creation of this museum, which is budgeted at $2.5 million. The initial tranche of financing for this ambitious initiative has been generously provided by Saudi Arabia.

In an official statement, UNESCO articulated, "The virtual museum is poised to be a transformative instrument for heightening awareness regarding the illicit trade of cultural treasures and the critical importance of safeguarding cultural heritage. This initiative targets a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including relevant authorities, cultural professionals, and the general populace, with a particular focus on younger generations."

The announcement of the museum took place in September 2022, and just last week, the organization revealed the blueprint for its design, which was crafted by Francis Kéré, an architect hailing from Burkina Faso and the recipient of the esteemed 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, expressed, "For this project, we needed an architect capable of reshaping conventional conventions, someone who could conceive spaces that transcend conventional norms, and someone who could forge an intimate connection between the tangible and intangible aspects."

The architectural concept of the museum takes inspiration from the majestic baobab tree, an indigenous African plant known for its myriad life-sustaining applications and profound spiritual significance. The museum's fundamental structure will mirror the baobab's distinctive profile, characterized by a wide, unadorned trunk and short, fused stems. Additionally, elements reminiscent of the iconic rotunda design of the Guggenheim Museum by Frank Lloyd Wright will be incorporated. Visitors will have the opportunity to navigate through a series of virtual galleries featuring intricate 3-D reconstructions of cultural artifacts, each accompanied by literary insights into their cultural significance, complemented by testimonials from communities in their countries of origin.

The museum is slated to be accessible to the public in 2025. UNESCO has chosen to keep the works comprising the inaugural collection confidential until shortly before the museum's official inauguration.