Architecture as Environmental Storytelling: Creating Participatory and Regenerative Museum Spaces ^†

This study demonstrates how architecture can serve as a powerful tool in creating an environmental narrative to promote regenerative design principles and boost awareness of biodiversity. The proposed Natural History Museum Complex situated in Bangladesh’s tropical terrain is a prime example of how ecological narratives and educational experiences can be effectively incorporated into the spatial and material language of architecture. The design reimagines the museum as a dynamic performative landscape rather than a static establishment. The structural system, which was inspired by skeletal marine remains found along the shore, represents the ecological vulnerability and establishes the mood for the visitor experience. From hill forests to coastal marshes, the arrangement represents a variety of local ecosystems, guiding visitors through immersive settings that highlight the intricacy, beauty, and fragility of natural systems. To minimize the environmental disturbance, the site’s natural topography is maintained, allowing it to breathe. The architecture incorporates filtered natural light to improve the spatial quality and lower energy consumption, while mechanical technologies provide controlled indoor settings for delicate exhibitions. Future adaptability and efficient construction are supported by lightweight and modular components. The project places a strong emphasis on participatory design and community interaction, portraying the museum as a regenerative dynamic system rather than solely a repository of knowledge. The building promotes greater public connections with nature and ecological responsibility by stimulating research, reflection, and action through its form, materials, and programming. This proposal, which is situated in a climate-vulnerable area, provides an architectural approach that combines environmental awareness with cultural expression. In order to promote more resilient futures, it offers a paradigm for how museum spaces in the Global South can serve as change agents by blending science, narrative, and sustainable design.