The building as art

This week I thought I would talk about the University of Michigan Museum of Art or the "UMMA." Unlike the other locations I've talked about, this museum is definitely more well known. It was under construction almost the entire time I've been at school here. While it was being constructed, I was definitely suspicious at times. The addition doesn't look like the original part of the museum at all, and I was worried about the way it would turn out. I think everybody is happy with the end result, however. The addition has a more modern feel, which works because it does house the museum's modern collection amongst other things. When you walk into a museum, it's generally assumed that you're there to appreciate the objects housed within, but we often times disregard the actual building itself. Architecture is a form of art, and a good example of this is the Guggenheim in New York City designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. There's a lot of thought that goes into the design of a museum, beyond the placement of the objects. The fact that the museum's collection existed before the building was built means that even the collection was considered when designing the new addition. I feel as if this video expresses the intent of the designer very well.