San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) has a rich architectural history that began with the construction of its Mario Botta-designed building in 1995. This building, located in the city's South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood, aimed to establish a visual identity for the museum in an area characterized by dilapidated buildings. The Botta building, although both admired and criticized for its Postmodern imagery, played a crucial role in creating an identifiable image for SFMOMA and triggering development in the neighborhood. It is located at 151 Third Street.
In 2016, SFMOMA underwent a major expansion led by the renowned architecture firm Snøhetta. This expansion seamlessly integrated the existing Mario Botta-designed building with new design elements, creating an outward-looking and engaging space that connects to the surrounding neighborhood through pedestrian pathways and entrances. The façade of the expansion was inspired by the waters and fog of the San Francisco Bay, resulting in a dynamic interplay of light and shadow on its rippled surface.
The new addition designed by Snøhetta doubled the museum's exhibition space to 170,000 square feet, making SFMOMA one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States. This expansion not only increased gallery space but also brought daylight into staircases and gallery landings, offered outdoor terraces and gardens for visitors to enjoy fresh air and urban vistas, and created a vibrant cultural center for the Bay Area.
For more information:
.jpg){kind=link}