The National Museum of Uzbekistan set to become a Tashkent landmark
- Last updated: September 2, 2025 | 10:49
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) is marking a major milestone by breaking ground for the National Museum of Uzbekistan. Designed by internationally renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the new cultural institution is a major project in Central Asia, and is set to become an architectural and symbolic landmark in the heart of Tashkent, the Uzbek capital.
The museum is scheduled to open to the public in March 2028 and will become the country’s leading art institution for collecting, preserving, researching, interpreting, and promoting cultural heritage.
As an innovative project, the future museum connects Uzbekistan to global creative processes and artistic discourse, embodying the long-term strategic goal of building institutions that meet high international standards.
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that “the National Museum of Uzbekistan reflects our revitalised cultural potential and serves as a vivid expression of our noble aspirations to create creative spaces that inspire, unite, and set an example for future generations. It will stand as a majestic symbol of the New Uzbekistan, representing its rich heritage and openness to the world.”
The building reflects a signature minimalist approach, special to Ando, while drawing inspiration from architectural heritage. Located in the pulsing heart of Tashkent, the museum will combine contemplative spatial design with contemporary functionality, creating a civic and cultural hub for visitors of all ages. Ando’s architectural language, one marked by pure geometry, natural light, and harmony with the environment, will also offer a serene yet powerful setting for the museum’s evolving collection.
Composed of circles and squares connected by triangles, the building will house both the museum and a library, with a public plaza connecting the two. “By building with these pure forms, I wanted to return to the origins of thought and create a space from which powerful ideas could be sent out into the world,” says Ando. “I hope that the Museum will serve as a new centre of creative expression directed towards the world.” “The National Museum of Uzbekistan will serve as a unique bridge between our past and our future,” says Gayane Umerova, Head of the Department for Creative Economy and Tourism of the Presidential Administration and Chairperson of ACDF. “It reflects our national identity and confidence in cultural capacity to shape a new society.”
The museum’s exhibition design is being developed by Atelier Brückner, one of leading narrative architecture and scenography studios. Working in close collaboration with Ando, the German team will bring to life an immersive experience that blends narrative and sensory elements to engage the imagination. The Atelier says that it “aims to create engaging environments which empower communities and international guests to learn, interact, have fun and feel welcome and inspired by excellent design.”
From its inaugural displays to future commissions and public programmes, the museum will offer a wide range of exhibitions, publications, residencies, and educational initiatives. A key focus will be placed on expanding access to culture for young people, aimed at nurturing their creative potential and deepening their connection to heritage. The permanent collection will include masterpieces from national holdings as well as newly acquired works reflecting the country’s evolving identity and global connections.
An ambitious acquisitions strategy is currently underway, with the goal of building a collection that speaks of both historical depth and contemporary resonance. ACDF preserves, promotes and nurtures heritage, arts and culture. To date, it has reached over 3.5 million visitors through landmark exhibitions across 17 countries, from the Louvre and Arab World Institute in Paris, to the Uffizi in Florence, the British Museum in London, and the Palace Museum in Beijing.
With projects presented across Europe, Asia, the Gulf, and collaborations with over 40 international museums and cultural institutions, the Foundation amplifies Uzbek voices and stories in the most influential cultural arenas. ACDF has also launched Modernism, an ongoing research project documenting and protecting Tashkent’s modernist architecture, highlighted by two significant publications in collaboration with Rizzoli New York (published November 2024) and Lars Müller Publishers (published May 2025). In Bukhara, ACDF is launching the first Bukhara Biennial in September 2025.
Gayane Umerova is currently overseeing the restoration and development of the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent, poised to become a new cultural hub for the region, and is the Commissioner of the Bukhara Biennial (Sept. 5 – Nov. 20, 2025). She has spearheaded the inaugural Aral Culture Summit (Apr. 4-6, 2025), and is the Commissioner for the Uzbekistan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale Arte and Architettura since 2021 as well as for Expo 2025 Osaka, among other significant projects.
Tadao Ando is a self-taught Japanese architect, born in 1941 in Osaka. He founded Tadao Ando Architect & Associates in 1969, developing a distinct architectural language defined by pure geometric forms, exposed concrete, and a spatial sensibility that engages deeply with nature. His acclaimed works include the Church of the Light (1989), Awaji-Yumebutai (1999), Pulitzer Arts Foundation (2001), Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (2002), Chichu Art Museum (2004), Punta della Dogana (2009), Shanghai Poly Theater (2014), and the Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection (2021). Ando has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize (1995), AIA Gold Medal (2002), Japan Art Academy Prize (1993), and the Japanese Order of Culture (2010). He has also been honoured by France and Italy for his cultural contributions. A former visiting professor at Yale, Columbia and Harvard, Ando is Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo.