The Architecture of the Guggenheim
When I visited the Guggenheim Museum this past weekend, I was astounded by the architecture of the building. I have never seen the Guggenheim Museum before, so I have expected it to look like any ordinary classical museum. I expected it to have columns and a grand staircase in front like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Contrary to my expectations, the Guggenheim Museum is a circular building with a modernistic appearance. The building looks like it has circular bands projecting out from a central, vertical base. I learned that this is a style called cantilevering. The inside of the museum has ramps that circle from the top to the bottom. I learned that the museum’s architect meant for visitors to start at the top of the museum and walk down while looking at the artworks hung along the ramps. I found the architecture of the Guggenheim Museum to be more beautiful than the artworks inside the museum.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Your description of the Guggenheim and other museums made me think about the effects of the surrounding environment on an artwork. The architecture and design of the facility contributes to the experience, just as the design or layout of the space displaying the artworks.
December 14th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Oh thats so cool, I just learned about the Guggenheim in my Art History class last week and actually know what you are talking about when you mention “cantilevering” and that the architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, wanted you to start from the top and make your way down.
December 19th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I take art with Dan and I feel the same exact way. After learning about the architecture of the Guggenheim Museum, it would be interesting to go there in person.