Archinect - The Architecture of Houston 2024-04-19T14:53:13-04:00 https://archinect.com/blog/article/126962407/an-architectural-review-of-the-houston-museum-of-fine-arts An Architectural Review of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts Mathew Duran 2015-05-08T21:01:35-04:00 >2021-04-08T08:00:42-04:00 <p><img alt="" src="https://architectureofhouston.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/mfa1.jpg"></p><p>In the early to late 1950&rsquo;s, German-born architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was challenged with the task of designing an expansion for the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, which would not be only his first of two museums worked on, but also his only one in the United States. This 1920&rsquo;s neoclassical museum turned modern, which would later need another expansion that would also be carried out by Rohe himself, was a generous gift from that of Nina J. Cullinan, thus the name Cullinan Hall. Rohe, previously famous for his work in both Europe and the northern United States, wanted to create a museum expansion that was very open and inviting. After his initial arrival in the Summer of 1953, the hot, sweaty, yet determined German architect set out to design a pavilion for the museum that was not only non-traditional of museums of his era, but also one that would redefine the qualities of space using his vast experience in design and construction of very tectonic and modern architecture.</p><p><img alt="" src="https://architectureofhouston.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/interior.jpg?w=780"></p><p>Mies...</p>