Museum spaces are usually thought of as large rectangular spaces with partitions in between to showcase art. However, the house museum (Frick) and the designed museum (Guggenheim) were very unique spaces that were atypical to a usual museum layout. Both museums had varying approaches to view their art based on their circulation creating different spaces and movements within each gallery.

The Frick museum used different rooms to separate each art exhibit but was still able to maintain a connection with each room by using glass and no doors. Before walking into the museum, it already created a statement with its entrance being elevated from the sidewalk giving a sense of importance to the building. Making my way into the building I felt a warm environment emitted by the lights and wood materials, it didn’t feel like a regular museum would. The big open sky light ceiling in the grand area felt more like an outside garden evoking a calm environment with the running fountain in the middle. Each space would you lead you to the next some using hallways where it wouldn’t change ceiling heights and special areas, it would go from a regular ceiling height to a larger one giving the element of surprise.

The Guggenheim had a unique way of setting its art galleries. Unlike the Frick museum where every exhibit was separated by rooms, the Guggenheim had more of a gradual transition in each art display. They didn’t share the same element of surprise because of the way the Guggenheim was designed, you are able to see several art displays at once from across the spaces. Just by standing still and looking at people walking in a circular path gave a sense of movement as if the museum was twirling. The lobby’s massive ceiling height gave the museum an immediate grand gesture where it became more of a lighter space especially with the white interior.