Museum of Sex Miami
A space to explore the history, evolution, and cultural significance of human desire
2022–2024
Introduction
From fine art and historical collectibles to film, the Museum of Sex preserves an ever-growing collection of sexuality-related ephemera with exhibitions and programming that reveals the best of current scholarship while sparking public discourse and engagement of the topic. It's fun too!
Located in the Miami neighborhood of Allapattah, the new outpost of the Museum of Sex is a sensory experience about more than just the human body, but an exploration of form, space, and play for adults. The 32,000 sq ft building was the former home of the Miami Herald distribution center and is the newest development within a post-industrial, emerging cultural hub. The space will house a collection of permanent and temporary exhibitions and is the second location for the New York City-based museum.
Technical details
Museum of Sex
Design played an integral role in the execution of the museum’s mission to preserve and present the history, evolution, and cultural significance of human desire. As collaborators on the project, we produced design concepts for the exterior, lobby and retail store, the temporary exhibition space, the Carnal Carnival bar, as well as the galleries and immersive experiences.
Our concepts included a 40-foot-wide "rococo style" mermaid tank and fountain and 20 other interactive spaces and games for the permanent exhibition Super Funland, a grand space centered on the erotic history of the carnival. This purpose-built space is an environment for friends to come together, for encouraging wonder while strolling the multicolored halls of memorabilia, and for educating audiences on the pivotal and diverse role of sensuality within the realms of the arts, science, and culture.
"Snøhetta's collaboration with the Museum of Sex is rooted in positivity and joy. As we have pursued creating places that bring people together, our team embraced the levity that characterizes Museum of Sex, working to translate this perspective into a collection of interiors that embrace fun, laughter, and unity."
Snøhetta interior architecture discipline director, Anne-Rachel Schiffmann
