Whether you’re a bug-fanatic or just curious about the natural world, Montreal’s new insect museum will pique your interest. Located in the city’s botanical garden complex, it’s one of the largest of its kind in North America and features detailed displays for preserved insects as well as habitats where live species thrive. It also offers a variety of educational and interactive experiences, with some particularly eye-catching features including a bumblebee hive, ant hill, and dragonfly flight chamber.
The Montreal Insectarium is part of Espace pour la vie, a collection of science museums that strives to be “at the forefront of innovation and scientific exploration.” A major renovation began in 2019, with the museum now featuring an immersive experience designed by Berlin-based architects Kuehn Malvezzi and local firms Dupras Ledoux and NCX. The design welcomes visitors into a greenhouse-like structure, which then ushers them into a series of alcoves that mimic the world of insects.
Throughout the space, visitors are encouraged to interact with and observe insects in their natural habitats—an approach that is reminiscent of Franz Kafka’s 1915 novel The Metamorphosis. It also echoes the museum’s mission to empower people to embrace their role as agents of change for ecological sustainability. In fact, this idea was inspired by the concept of biophilia, an ancient human fascination with nature, which is at the heart of the Montreal insect museum’s reimagining.
While the reimagined insect museum features a bumblebee hive, an ant hill, and a dragonfly flight chamber, the highlight of the design is undoubtedly the Great Vivarium, which showcases many different types of plants as habitats for insects. This glass-enclosed greenhouse is the first curtain-wall vivarium in Canada that has been certified as LEED Gold, and it features a series of biophilic designs meant to foster visitors’ interaction with insects.
For example, a waterfall is meant to simulate the sounds of a tropical rainforest while a glass ceiling and wall are meant to reflect light and bring a sense of transparency to the space. There are also a number of plant structures, such as a bamboo forest and a water wall, that are meant to inspire visitors’ curiosity about the biodiversity that surrounds them.
There is even a “plant scavenger hunt” that gives visitors the opportunity to observe and identify plants around them. In addition, an app is being developed to allow visitors to more easily navigate the space and provide them with information about the different insects they encounter.
While some parts of the insect museum still require visitors to view the specimens behind protective glass, this revamp of the Montreal insect museum is sure to spark a renewed appreciation for nature’s creatures. It will be interesting to see how visitors react to the montreal bug museum when it officially reopens to the public later this month. To learn more about the insect museum and how you can visit, head to the website. And be warned, you might just find yourself wanting to come back for more.