Author Description

In December 1997, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, chose as architect for its ambitious expansion program Yoshio Taniguchi, designer of several admired museums in his native Japan. This project has been a focus of international attention within the worlds of art, architecture, and design. Presented here is a detailed study of this example of institutional decision-making in a context of great practical and aesthetic complexity.The museum was determined that its new facility be an imaginative response to the challenge of its complex urban site as well as an architectural landmark for the 21st century. The process is documented here in an overview by the museum's director, Glenn D. Lowry, and in transcripts of conferences and lectures involving museum directors, curators, critics, artists, and architects.The preliminary proposals of 10 invited architects are illustrated, with an expanded summary of those of the three finalists, Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, Bernard Tschumi, and Taniguchi.