National Ethnography Museum

Designed for Rumšiškės, the National Ethnography Museum fuses tradition and modernity. The building is divided into five volumes resembling homesteads, united by a central exhibition hall. By sinking three of its four floors underground, it preserves a human scale and blends into the Lithuanian Open-Air Museum landscape.

The architectural vision draws from Lithuanian rural heritage, transforming the archetype of the farmhouse into a contemporary museum complex. Each volume has a distinct role—administration, storage, café-library—while the central hall serves as the heart for exhibitions. Thatched roofs, timber structures, and reclaimed brick reconnect the museum to vernacular materials and traditions.

Sustainability defines the project’s logic. Most functions are underground to minimize visual impact and stabilize temperature, reducing energy needs. Reed roofs shield interiors from overheating, while UV-protective glazing safeguards collections. Hills landscaped from excavated soil foster biodiversity and seasonal change, turning nature itself into part of the museum’s exhibit.