---
title: "Museum & Art Gallery Architecture: Design & Conservation"
description: "Expert museum and gallery architecture design by RMA. We specialize in adaptive reuse of heritage buildings and modern subterranean gallery spaces with a focus on light and visitor flow."
canonical: https://mytribe.in/rma_architects/institutional-cultural-architectural-design/museums-art-galleries-curating-cultural-experiences
last_updated: 2025-08-21
---

# Museum & Art Gallery Architectural Design

Tribe Verified · Specialists in heritage conservation and restoration.

By [RMA Architects](https://mytribe.in/rma_architects) · Takes projects across India; Visit office in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai · ₹400 per sq. ft. of Built-Up Area (estimate)

Part of [Institutional & Cultural Architectural Design](https://mytribe.in/rma_architects/institutional-cultural-architectural-design). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/rma_architects/institutional-cultural-architectural-design/gallery)

We design museums and galleries as acts of conservation and spatial choreography, prioritizing visitor flow, light, and context-driven architecture.

## Photos and videos

- ![The interior renovation of the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai involved creating highly flexible exhibition spaces. These movable black partitions allow for endless configurations, accommodating a wide range of artistic installations.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/046757f9-6fb3-4bf2-93c0-16688a7e126f)
- ![The main hall of the Vismaya private museum in Alibaug features a curving interior wall and strategically placed skylights. The space is designed to house large-scale sculptures, with the architecture itself becoming a quiet, sculptural backdrop.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1e01137d-1788-4359-bdcc-a58975db0c4a)
- ![A view from the subterranean gallery at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum. A large glass wall opens the underground space to a sunken courtyard, bringing in natural light and connecting the gallery to the landscape above.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/247543b2-ff19-4d9b-a5e6-06728225c1c2)
- ![The exterior of the Vismaya museum is a composition of bold, simple forms articulated in different colors and textures. This approach breaks down the building's mass and responds to the surrounding landscape and internal display requirements.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/29884e33-a664-4dc0-9bd0-ff927e0aa968)
- ![An artwork is suspended in the central atrium of the CSMVS museum's staircase extension, which we completed in 1998. We design circulation spaces in cultural institutions to double as dramatic galleries for site-specific installations.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2d105532-906a-411c-a8b1-3bcb31ebc33a)
- ![The Children's Museum at CSMVS in Mumbai is carefully nestled under the canopy of large, existing trees. The design preserves the natural heritage of the site while creating a protected, shaded environment for the new building.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2dd5d3d6-d1d6-4597-9bc5-d7d39c7a261c)
- ![For the Jehangir Art Gallery renovation, we designed a system of modular, movable partitions. This allows the gallery to transform its spatial layout to suit the specific needs of each exhibition, ensuring maximum flexibility.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/339c4cb1-040c-4a58-aaaa-6a1055d382d5)
- ![In retrofitting a heritage building for the Sakshi Art Gallery, we created a fluid circulation path through a series of interconnected rooms. The ambiguous thresholds and clean, minimalist walls provide a neutral canvas for the art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/34edbef5-b0e6-4579-b7ea-18916ccfd47b)
- ![A view of the subterranean gallery at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum, showing the seamless transition from the interior exhibition space to the sunken courtyard. A shallow water channel at the base of the glass reflects light into the gallery.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/36033767-dda3-42a0-948c-a541793873ed)
- ![A detail from the Heritage House at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Gallery. Our conservation work involved carefully restoring original features like this ornate spiral staircase and patterned tile floor, preserving the residential ambiance of the historic home.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3f7fdb91-7306-4964-80fe-364341ee1bc6)
- ![A covered veranda at the Vismaya museum blurs the line between the interior gallery and the exterior landscape. This transitional space offers visitors a place to rest and enjoy views of the surrounding greenery.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6423c62f-160d-4a22-9a2a-25dd7f09391c)
- ![The design for Project 88 gallery involved stripping back a former printing press to its essential structure. The restored industrial columns and beams create a powerful dialogue with the contemporary art displayed within the space.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6901f160-810a-4696-bd21-05a676c9c9b1)
- ![A view from the Batley Gallery at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum. A full-height glass wall provides a clear view of the historic main house, creating a visual connection between the adapted gallery space and the original heritage structure.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/743fbb1e-5b97-4d71-a715-8aaefc9e1039)
- ![The wide, grand staircase leading down to the subterranean gallery at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum. The gentle slope and generous width transform the descent into a formal procession, preparing the visitor for the exhibition below.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7484a8af-0087-4645-8e70-4141a4b30a2b)
- ![The interior of the restored Heritage House at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Gallery. We maintained the original room layouts and residential scale to display the art collection in an intimate, personal setting, as it was originally intended.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7c1ff0ef-c5c0-4419-9ec0-347703f53a9d)
- ![The entrance to the subterranean gallery at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum is a discreet opening in the landscape. This design allows the new extension to exist without visually compromising the sightlines of the historic mansion on the site.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7cd1b806-6e2d-4cc6-adb8-6db6d02e78f7)
- ![The renovation of the Jehangir Art Gallery was predicated on creating a flexible "white cube" space. The design uses a system of suspended, movable panels to allow for a multitude of exhibition layouts within the raw, stripped-down historic shell.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/88359681-e134-4907-90f0-b889321e5a07)
- ![The Batley Gallery, a former kitchen block, was readapted into a modern exhibition space. We exposed the original wooden roof trusses and combined them with contemporary track lighting to create a space that honors its history while serving a new function.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9b8b5f79-9bf7-478f-a2aa-fda0574c7e47)
- ![The vast, open interior of Project 88 gallery, a former industrial warehouse. We preserved the original cast-iron columns and steel beams, painting them white to unify the space and create a raw, textured backdrop for large-scale art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9f4a247e-fa8c-4b2c-b267-e529e0335e0b)
- ![The restored facade of the Heritage House at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Gallery. Our conservation work focused on meticulously repairing and preserving the original architectural details of this historic colonial-era mansion.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9fba3032-b8a3-45ce-9aa3-f66c32214df6)
- ![A modern glass-walled extension to the Batley Gallery reflects the historic facade of the main museum building. This juxtaposition of old and new is a recurring theme in our work with heritage structures.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a5d3472e-0867-4952-af0d-b7b6edef4c86)
- ![The interior of the Vismaya museum is a fluid, open-plan space modulated by curving walls and carefully controlled light from above. This allows for a flexible arrangement of artifacts and creates a varied journey for the visitor.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a92b0bcf-7f24-4f17-beff-6d78dbba2c90)
- ![A visitor contemplates an exhibition at Project 88 gallery. The preserved industrial columns punctuate the large, open space, creating a rhythm that guides movement without dictating a specific path.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/affb2b61-8a8a-4368-9f74-0cd004c33498)
- ![A view through a series of arched openings in the Sakshi Art Gallery. The design leverages the existing layout of the heritage building to create layered views and a sense of discovery as one moves through the space.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b063c71a-c581-49ed-9649-3d158cf32e4b)
- ![A dramatic, light-filled staircase at the Vismaya museum. A narrow slit of light from a skylight above illuminates the path, creating a powerful, almost spiritual transition between gallery levels.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c1604564-2b99-4fb7-87cb-96d8aeaaaa2d)
- ![The discreet facade of Gallery Maskara, located in a former boat repair shed in a historic Mumbai lane. Our adaptive reuse approach respects the industrial character of the neighborhood while creating a contemporary art space within.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c3953026-097d-480a-baa6-665e5250f670)
- ![A detail of a restored cast-iron column and steel beam connection at Project 88 gallery. We celebrate the industrial heritage of the buildings we adapt, making the original structure a key part of the architectural experience.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c41e2d1b-44de-475c-aa54-403d6e656999)
- ![The flexible interior of the Jehangir Art Gallery, showing how the suspended panels can be configured to create intimate alcoves or long, continuous walls for displaying art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c6328ce7-7b81-4ad7-bcf3-5f063bbaae74)
- ![The interior of the Vismaya museum is a carefully composed sequence of spaces. Here, freestanding partitions and controlled lighting create a dramatic, moody atmosphere, focusing the visitor's attention on the illuminated artworks.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d635b8f3-28d1-494b-bb94-f695a2d0bfe2)
- ![The long, linear expanse of the subterranean gallery at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum. The polished black floor reflects the artwork and the light from the side courtyard, creating a sense of infinite space.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e16a811e-6c14-4b0f-a7bf-3a2aaf836003)
- ![A full view of the restored Heritage House at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Gallery, set within its manicured landscape. The project demonstrates our expertise in large-scale architectural conservation and landscape integration.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ec07bc9e-306e-4010-8290-33c1b3a9e94c)
- ![An art installation viewed through a series of thresholds at the Sakshi Art Gallery. The design creates framed views and a sense of procession, enhancing the experience of discovering the art within the space.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ee7e2048-ffbb-4306-8ea4-cb38ca1aa754)
- ![The main gallery space at Vismaya is characterized by its clean lines, sweeping curves, and the soft, diffuse light from circular skylights. The architecture provides a serene and neutral environment for the display of art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/eec1fe81-70eb-4d57-b76d-6dfcfc39a723)
- ![Gallery Maskara was designed to accommodate large-scale installation art. The high, open volume of the former industrial shed provides the necessary scale and flexibility for artists to realize ambitious, site-specific works.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f03a3d41-fe73-471c-8fa6-d90e26f5e8a4)
- ![The exterior wall of the Vismaya museum is articulated with a series of deep, vertical fins. This creates a rhythmic facade that changes in appearance with the movement of the sun, playing with light and shadow throughout the day.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/fe04265a-442d-4321-82aa-a477dc1d909e)

## About Museums & Art Galleries: Curating Cultural Experiences

When we expand heritage sites, we often look downward. For the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum in Ahmedabad, we designed a subterranean gallery that respects the historic sightlines of the existing mansion. This approach allows us to significantly increase exhibition space while ensuring the historic landscape remains undisturbed by new, intrusive massing.

In our museum work, we treat every project as a dialogue between the artifact and the environment. For projects like the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, this meant stripping the space to its raw structure, creating a neutral canvas that allows the art to take center stage. We utilize movable partitions and modular systems to ensure these spaces can adapt to diverse exhibition formats, acknowledging that cultural requirements change over time.

When dealing with heritage environments, our focus shifts to conservation and respectful expansion. We aim for surgical interventions—carefully retrofitting HVAC and security systems within historic shells without disrupting the original material palette. Our lighting strategy, which often involves skylights and subterranean apertures, is meticulously planned to control humidity and protect delicate artifacts while maintaining a connection to the natural world. Whether designing a new museum or retrofitting an industrial building like Project 88, we prioritize fluid circulation and the spatial sensibility of the user, ensuring the architecture remains a quiet, supportive framework for the visitor experience.

## About RMA Architects

We have been practicing architecture since 1990 with a core belief that buildings should sit quietly but powerfully in their context. Our process is rooted in deep collaboration, where we blend traditional spatial sensibilities with contemporary needs to create environments that feel inherently alive.

[See all of RMA Architects's services](https://mytribe.in/rma_architects)

## More from Institutional & Cultural Architectural Design by RMA Architects

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- [The Interplay of Light & Form](https://mytribe.in/rma_architects/institutional-cultural-architectural-design/the-interplay-of-light-form)
- [Climate-Responsive Facades](https://mytribe.in/rma_architects/institutional-cultural-architectural-design/climate-responsive-facades)
- [Spaces for Connection: Courtyards & Circulation](https://mytribe.in/rma_architects/institutional-cultural-architectural-design/spaces-for-connection-courtyards-circulation)
- [The Architect's Craft: Process & Collaboration](https://mytribe.in/rma_architects/institutional-cultural-architectural-design/the-architect-s-craft-process-collaboration)

## More services by RMA Architects

- [Commercial & Corporate Architectural Design](https://mytribe.in/rma_architects/commercial-corporate-architectural-design)

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