TWO ARCHITECTURE EXHIBITIONS AT MoMA
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is showcasing two exhibitions that explore the evolving relationship between architecture and its social, environmental, and technological contexts. These shows, Down to Earth and The City May Now Scatter, highlight innovative approaches to design and planning.
Down to Earth (Gallery 216)
New generations of architects are redefining the connection between architecture and the Earth. Unlike mid-20th-century modernists who separated structures from the soil due to concerns about humidity and disease, today’s architects embrace the ground as an ally in human and environmental well-being. Inspired by Bruno Latour’s book Down to Earth, this exhibition features projects that explore the “critical zone,” the planet’s outer crust where life thrives.
These works integrate innovative design with environmental sustainability, addressing climate challenges, fostering resilience, and reconnecting humans with nonhuman life. Projects demonstrate how architecture can shape a more harmonious relationship with the planet.
Down to Earth is organized by Evangelos Kotsioris, Assistant Curator, and Paula Vilaplana de Miguel, Curatorial Assistant, with Joëlle Martin, former 12-month intern, Department of Architecture and Design, and Abby Hermosilla, Curatorial Assistant, Curatorial Affairs. The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of public events and online features.
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Installation view of the gallery “Down to Earth” in the exhibition "Collection 1980s–Present". Photograph by Jonathan Dorado. Courtesy of MoMA
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Installation view of the gallery “Down to Earth” in the exhibition "Collection 1980s–Present". Photograph by Jonathan Dorado. Courtesy of MoMA
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Installation view of the gallery “Down to Earth” in the exhibition "Collection 1980s–Present". Photograph by Jonathan Dorado. Courtesy of MoMA
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Installation view of the gallery “Down to Earth” in the exhibition "Collection 1980s–Present". Photograph by Jonathan Dorado. Courtesy of MoMA
The City May Now Scatter (Gallery 519)
This exhibition features Frank Lloyd Wright’s Broadacre City model, displayed for the first time in a decade, alongside related works from MoMA’s collection. Wright envisioned a decentralized urban plan enabled by automobiles and telephones, proposing a nationwide grid of highways that would allow people to live on their own land. His vision drew on Thomas Jefferson’s ideal of widespread land ownership but adapted it for a 20th-century technological landscape.
Surrounding the model are works like Edward Hopper’s Gas Station and Lester Beal’s rural electrification posters, which reflect on early 20th-century transformations in transportation and communication. Wright’s vision resonates today, as internet-driven distribution networks reshape landscapes and revive nostalgic notions of self-reliance.
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Installation view of the gallery "The City May Now Scatter" in the exhibition "Collection 1880s-1940s". Photographed in July 2024. Courtesy of MoMA
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Installation view of the gallery "The City May Now Scatter" in the exhibition "Collection 1880s-1940s". Photographed in July 2024. Courtesy of MoMA
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Frank Lloyd Wright. Broadacre City Project (Model in four sections), 1934–1935. Courtesy of MoMA
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Installation view of the gallery "The City May Now Scatter" in the exhibition "Collection 1880s-1940s". Photographed in July 2024. Courtesy of MoMA
Organized by Carson Chan, Matthew Wagstaffe, Dewi Tan, Eva Lavranou, and Rachel Remick, this exhibition explores the implications of Wright’s ideas in modern contexts.
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