MOMA: The Museum Of Modern Art

923 Words2 Pages

The Museum Of Modern Art “MOMA” was firmly established on 53rd street in 1939 in Midtown Manhattan New York, after a decade of moving due to its growth in modern art pieces. Originally Patrons Miss Lillie P. Bliss, Mrs. Cornelius J. Sullivan, and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller Jr. wanted to establish a program dedicated to modern art in the late 1920s. A. Conger Goodyear, Paul Sachs, Frank Crowninshield and Josephine Boardman Crane, whom later became trustees, created the Museum Of Modern Art in 1929. It’s founding Director, Alfred H. Barr, Jr. wanted the MOMA to be "the greatest museum of modern art in the world." Its intent was to provide ordinary blue collar individuals with a better understanding and acknowledgment of art in its era.
Throughout the years MOMA’s collection grew, with that came the need for space. Such as the expansion in the 1950’s and 1960’s by architect Philip Johnson, the renovation by Cesar Pelli in 1984 which increased gallery space and visitor facilities, and previously in 1997 the redesigning of the building by architect Yoshio Taniguchi that was completed in 2006. Now the current expansion project will consist of demolishing the original American Folk Art Museum building designed by Todd Williams and Billie Tsien, which is located on 45th West 53rd Street. Due to financial difficulties the American Folk Art Museum relocated to 2 Lincoln Square, Manhattan, New York, and the original facility was sold to the Museum of Modern Art in 2011. This expansion was commissioned to Diller Scofido+Renfroshas, gifted architects that rejuvenated New York with the extraordinary beauty of the High Line, whose current design for the MOMA has become a huge architectural controversy of the 21st century.
The controversy d...

... middle of paper ...

...hanges and adapt to the expectations of today’s social growth.
In conclusion, the controversy of demolishing the original American Folk Art museum’s has been finalized without remorse. According to Diller Scofido+Renfroshas no reasoning could have been found for the integration of the American Folk Art Museum. However, preservation is essential to architecture in the 21st century. It disciplines architecture. Preservation of the American Folk Art Museum will make the site meaningful by keeping the qualities that make it what we call architecture. My opinion is that there are ways to integrate the buildings. Diller Scofido+Renfroshas could have redesigned for a better integration without demolishing the neighboring building ruining a cultural institution. Diller Scofido+Renfroshas is portraying an egotistical and disrespectful opinion towards architecture.

Open Document