Tadao Ando breaks ground on massive Uzbekistan museum

World-renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando officially broke ground on the National Museum of Uzbekistan in Tashkent on August 27, 2025, with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev laying the ceremonial foundation stone. The project marks Ando’s first major commission in Central Asia and signals Uzbekistan’s ambitious cultural renaissance as the country positions art and culture at the center of its national identity.

The 40,038 square meter museum, scheduled to open in March 2028, will house over 100,000 artworks—one of the largest collections in Central Asia. Currently, Tashkent’s 30 museums store more than one million artifacts, but only 2,400 from the State Museum of Art’s collection of 100,000 pieces are displayed due to limited space. The new facility will allow up to 10,000 exhibits to be shown simultaneously.president

A Fusion of Eastern and Western Architecture

Ando’s design integrates his signature minimalist aesthetic with spatial references to Uzbekistan’s architectural heritage, featuring three interconnected geometric forms: a circle, a square, and a triangle. “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,” Ando explained. The architectural concept symbolizes the harmony between Eastern and Western cultures.domusweb

The museum complex will include 8,500 square meters of permanent and temporary exhibition halls, alongside a public library, lecture hall, conservation laboratories, and a multifunctional auditorium. Additional facilities will span 4,000 square meters, featuring conference halls, restaurants, and children’s areas.gazeta

Presidential Vision for Cultural Heritage

At the groundbreaking ceremony held near the National Park, President Mirziyoyev emphasized the museum’s role in cultural preservation. “This museum will become a center of science, education, and culture, bringing our rich three thousand years of heritage to the people, the international community, and future generations,” he stated. The President described the unique artworks from Central Asia, China, Japan, India, and Europe as “an invaluable treasure not only for our people but for all of humanity”.president

International Collaboration and Future Partnerships

The project represents significant international cooperation, with exhibition design by German studio Atelier Brückner and construction by China’s CSCEC International Construction. The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), which commissioned the project, plans future collaborations with prestigious institutions including the Louvre, Metropolitan Museum, and British Museum.president

Located in central Tashkent between the Abulkasym Madrasa, Palace of Friendship of Peoples, and National Park, the museum will form a unified architectural ensemble and serve as a thematic tourist center. The project reflects Uzbekistan’s broader cultural initiatives under ACDF, including the upcoming Bukhara Biennial and the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent opening in September 2025.acdf