Art museums have many forms; some of the museums shaped like a house, some museums were an imitation of Greek buildings and some museums took the modern approach. All of the museums have the same goal of showcasing the history, but some of them do it differently.
Henry Clay Frick became rich because of his relationship between coal (coke) and steel plants. Because of his collection of many paintings, he decided to turn his house into a museum after his deceased. In one of the rooms, we can see a fireplace and a large living room. It is quite confusing to move around the space because each room is connected to another. We sometimes forget or miss a room as we walk freely in the space. It almost feels like letting all the sheep loose on the field without a herding dog. There is no circulation path leading the people. Some of the floorings are made out of wood and we can even hear the squicking sound as we step on it. It makes me appreciate that people are preserving the museum.
On the other hand, the Guggenheim museum was designed purposefully for showcasing art. It took four years to get the permit because of its form. the building has spirals leading from the bottom to the top, where the top is bigger than the bottom, making it top-heavy. It was made out of reinforced concrete; the building looks strong and steady. It has a glass oculus on the top, like The Pantheon. As we enter the museum, we have to follow the circular path that was created. Frank Lloyd Wright intended for people to take the elevators to the top and walk down the circular path, following the direction of the gravity. There is an intended route applied in the Guggenheim museum, unlike the Frick museum.
Both museums are great in their own way and it is good to see different variations. The differences between the museums enhance the uniqueness of each museum.
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