Day 8,030: An experience in Architecture at MoMA
A few days ago, I became a member of MoMA and spent about four hours touring the museum for the first time. It was amazing seeing famous works by Picasso, Mirรณ, and Matisse in the flesh-- something about seeing (or feeling?) the depth of the paint on canvas totally changes the experience. But of all the beautiful and fascinating art pieces and sculptures, one particular exhibit, hidden in the back area of the Architecture section, keeps coming back to me. I keep thinking about it every day.
I was walking through the architecture section, looking at the strange landscapes and odd "artfully constructed" home models on display. Then I looked up and saw the most beautiful structure I have ever seen. I'd like to think that is an exaggeration, but it's not. What I was looking at was a model of a home built into the side of a mountain on top of a waterfall. With huge, out-reaching decks and large windows pointing into the wilderness, it looks like the perfect, most serene environment. For ten minutes, I stared. I want this house.
I don't think this photograph does the home justice. From further away, you can see the waterfall is fed by a natural river running under the house and there is a stairway leading to a platform levitating slightly above the water. Can you imagine how fucking amazing it would be to wake up in the morning and look at the window of your house and see a waterfall like this?
The interior is also amazing:
I probably stared at the model for ten minutes. Then walked over to a white a placard on the table nearby. It said:
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
Fallingwater: The Edgar J. Kaufmann House, 1934-7
Apparently, it's quite famous, but I had never seen or heard of Falling water before. Quite the masterpiece.
Edit (added 1:54PM EST):
Apparently this home "partly inspired" Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, which I am coincidentally in the middle of reading. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater
