The Impact of the Museum of Modern Art on Modern Architecture in the United States
The article, “Codifying Modernism” outlines hows the Museum of Modern Art in New York had an immense impact on modern architecture in the United States (US). This commenced in 1932 when a group of architects presented their exhibit in the museum’s international exhibition. The architects included three historians – Alfred Barr, Henry-Russell Hitchcock, and Philip Johnson – who became the curators of modernization of architectural standards. They also contributed to the advancement of the MOMA philosophy, which embraced universality of architectural designs and opposed regionality practices that were cherished by other architects such as Charles Cheney. Previously, many states in the US had attempted to develop architecture unique to their setting and identity (Matthews, 1994). However, Barr, Henry, and Johnson endeavored to change this status quo. This discussion summarizes the article and outlines the previous achievements made about the modernization of architecture in America, the exhibition, and its impact on modern designs.
The Success of the Exhibition
Barr, who was then the director, led the exhibition through numerous shows where the public got attracted and educated as well. Many factors promoted his success. First, there was the availability of funds pumped by Johnson. Second, the three historians worked together and contributed in the writing of the catalogs for presentation. When the three made a trip to Paris, they drafted plans on how their idea would materialize.
The Contrast with Previous Attempts
Earlier on, architects such as Hugh Ferris had attempted to introduce European modernist architecture in the US. In 1929, Jane Heap, an editor for the Little Review, also organized an exhibition in New York. In the same year, Hitchcock published an article, Modern Architecture, Romantics, and Reintegration. However, in his article, he contrasted Jane Heap’s work and stressed that architecture should be simple and aesthetic (Matthews, 1994). Hitchcock dismissed architectural designs, which did not embrace style. Furthermore, he did not recognize the contributions of other designers.
The Influence of the Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art would begin with introductions published in both the catalogs and book. The exhibition attracted many Americans who visited Barr’s galleries. Barr explained that they needed to borrow principles of modern architecture from Europe if indeed they intended to revolutionize the sector. As would be expected, some critics questioned why Barr and his associates were busy importing ideas from outside.
The Contributions of Barr, Johnson, and Hitchcock
During the exhibition, Barr, Johnson, and Henry stated what was right or wrong. They also clarified principles and explained the necessity to have good building rather than ‘smooth surface.’ At the end of the exhibition, Barr got convinced that he managed to change Americans’ perception on modern architecture. Nonetheless, the Museum of Modern Architecture went on for some few years under the leadership of Barr and Johnson (Matthews, 1994). The contribution of Henry Hitchcock was instrumental in this revolution. It is undeniable to note that the 1932 international exhibition and its associated catalogs and books had a long-term impact on modern architecture.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the exhibit formed the stage for modern architecture in America. The proponents of the International Style incorporated several aspects of architectural design such as aesthetics, simplicity, quality, and usability among others. In as much as Hitchcock made criticisms about previous work done by other architects, he gave due diligence where it deemed appropriate. Nonetheless, his work contributed immensely to the development of modern architecture. Architectural advancements which had gone a notch higher in Europe motivated the three architects. Also, they desired to bring about universality in the discipline. Indeed, Barr, Johnson, and Hitchcock achieved their objective.
References
Matthews, H. (1994). The Promotion of Modern Architecture by the Museum of Modern Art in the 1930s. Journal of Design History, 7(1), 43-43.
