EMP Museum, Seattle, Washington, USA

Though the EMP Museum (Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame) is included in the list of the world's ugliest buildings, we couldn't but notice the originality of its design. Either the designer was in chaos, or he was deeply impressed by the hard rock. However, many thanks to his creative imagination. The EMP was founded by Microsoft co-founder Pall Allen who's a big fan of Jimi Hendrix. The Museum designed by Frank Gehry opened in 2000. It resembles many of Gehry's sheet-metal construction works, such as Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Gehry Tower. The outside of the building , which features a fusion of textures and colors, including gold, silver, deep red, blue and a "shimmering purple haze", symbolizes the American rock music. In the early years of its existence, Experienced Music Project struggled financially, as a result of which in its south wing Paul Allen and Jody Patton established Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame opened in 2004.

It was one of two public science fiction museums in the world (along with Maison d'Ailleurs, a science fiction museum in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland). Here takes place the annual festival of cinematography and music that encourages and supports new, creative additions to science fiction and fantasy cinema arts. The central "Sky Church" room pays homage to Jimi Hendrix and other rock 'n' roll icons. The space has excellent lighting and acoustics, it is decorated with a frieze of video projections, and the height reaches up to 30 meters. The audio laboratory was the most inquisitive part of an interactive museum where visitors can make their own music, learn to play musical instruments and feel yourself in front of virtual crowd of fans. This interactive museum and exhibition center, where people love and understand and feel the music, gives nothing but positive and good energy. Ultramodern architecture and the essence of the museum are combined in perfect harmony.

By Lilit Khalatyan, www.building.am