Museums can exist in many forms: from the sleek Modernist aesthetic of the Museum of Modern Art, to the undulating organic curves of the Guggenheim in Bilbo, to the warm, colonial mansion that houses The Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum. The forms of these buildings are as unique as the collections they house, but what happens when a museum needs to be relocated and recreated? The Barnes Foundation decided to move into the city of Philadelphia from the suburbs, but due to a court order, was only allowed to do so if they recreated the galleries found in the original building. New York-based architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien took on this peculiar and notably difficult task. Their new design marries two distinct styles, the impersonation of the former galleries, and the beautifully rich modern architecture, which is comprised mostly of limestone, bronze and concrete. Although the architects were arguably successful in merging different styles, the project as a whole brings up a few questions, the most important one being was it in the best interest of the museum to hold onto the past, and in doing so did it limit its future? [ArchitecturalRecord]
