Museo Internacional del Barroco, Puebla

Museo Internacional del Barroco presents the Baroque as more than decoration, exploring the art, music, theatre, science, fashion, and religious imagery of the 17th and 18th centuries. Opened in 2016 and designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the museum reflects Baroque movement, contrast, and theatricality through a contemporary form rather than historic ornament.

The architecture is part of the visit. Its curved white concrete walls rise in a flowing sequence, an effect Ito connected with the idea of water springing from the earth. At the centre, a water court with a pool often compared to a fried egg reflects the Baroque interest in water, light, and staged visual effects. Behind the smooth white curves, “sandwich” walls and lightweight slabs made with recycled PET, a strong plastic commonly used in bottles and packaging, support the building’s complex form.

Inside, objects, models, 360-degree projections, and interactive screens explain Baroque culture through music, fashion, theatre, science, religious art, and urban life. A tall Foucault Pendulum links the displays to the scientific curiosity of the period, while the restaurant, natural cooling, and water-reuse systems extend the museum’s theme into the visitor experience and building design.