Architecture Increasingly Featured at Leading Museums

By Sarah Clark
Sarah.clark@graphicdesignschoolreview.com
Graphic Design School Review Columnist

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has organized an exhibition of the architectural and artistic works of Santiago Calatrava, the world renowned Spanish-born architect currently involved in high profile projects including a transportation hub at ground zero.

The exhibition focuses on Calatrava's architectural style and his sculptures, allowing viewers to consider how the architect's artistic works might inform his building designs. Much of his sculptures resemble the style of old master Brancusi, elongated graceful shapes influenced by African art. Sculptures are juxtaposed with renderings of Calatrava's most celebrated creations, such as the Milwaukee Art Museum, Lyon Airport in France, and City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

One of Calatrava's most talked about projects in New York is his 80 South Street building, which upon completion will resemble a tower of cubes, each of which will contain four residential units costing around $30 million each. Calatrava is also involved in designing a transportation hub in lower Manhattan that will provide access to commuter trains.

Calatrava received his undergraduate training in architecture at a university in Valencia, where he was raised. He went on to earn a doctorate degree in civil engineering in Zurich in 1979.

Museums Showcase Architecture

More and more museums are focusing on architecture and design, providing students with more opportunities to learn about architectural styles of contemporary and old masters of architecture. The National Building Museum in Washington, DC is dedicated to preserving important drawings, prints, and tools related to architecture. The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York also occasionally features work related to architecture, though its primary focus is design. Aspiring students of architecture can also indulge their interest in building design by visiting museums such as the Guggenheim in New York and the National Gallery of Art, structures conceived of by the greatest architects of our time.

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer who often writes on topics related to education and career development.