Opening of the New Danang Museum: A studioMilou Project

studioMilou’s striking design and adaptive reuse of the Danang Museum officially opened to the public on 29 March 2025, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from local authorities and communities.

Located beside a broad pedestrian piazza along the Han River in central Danang, the Museum offers a calm and welcoming cultural destination in this fast-growing city on Vietnam’s central coast. At the urban level, it acts as a vital connector within the cultural precinct—linking the Children’s Museum, the City Library, the Alliance Française, and surrounding public spaces.

Architecturally, the project transforms the former 19th-century French colonial City Hall through a refined extension inspired by the region’s rich weaving traditions. The result is a contemporary, cohesive composition that integrates seamlessly with the historic structure.

studioMilou’s exhibition design complements this architectural transformation by creating a unified and intuitive visitor journey. Carefully articulated galleries guide visitors through the region’s prehistoric landscapes, key historic events—including the struggle for independence from colonial rule and the American War—the cultural heritage of Danang’s diverse ethnic communities, and the city’s ongoing development and aspirations.

We extend our deepest thanks to the dedicated team at studioMilou Vietnam, led by Trung Thanh Nguyen, for their unwavering commitment throughout the project. Special recognition also goes to Ms Nguyen Thu Phuong for her instrumental role in both the architectural and exhibition design processes, and to Ms Maïe Kitamura, Présidente and Architecte du patrimoine at RL&A Architects (France), for her invaluable research and guidance.

Our sincere appreciation goes as well to our outstanding local partners at TAD Architects for their exceptional professionalism and tireless support.

Finally, we offer our warmest congratulations to the Museum’s Director, Mr Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien, and his team, as they embark on this new chapter for the Museum—serving both the local community and visitors to this dynamic and historic city.