23 Aesthetically Pleasing Museums Where the Architecture is as Stunning as the Art

22. Centre Pompidou, Paris: Inside-Out Icon

Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers flipped museum design on its head—literally—with the Centre Pompidou. By putting all the mechanical systems on the exterior in bright, color-coded pipes, they freed up massive, flexible gallery space inside. It was controversial when built in the 1970s, but now it’s a beloved Paris landmark. The escalators climbing the façade offer panoramic views of the city, while the building’s radical transparency celebrates the mechanics of culture. It’s raw, bold, and brilliantly self-aware.