SF MoMA Renovated

06/18/2016 English German

Edition # 116
San Francisco, 06-18-2016

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SF MoMA Renovated

Figure [1]: The new addition to the SF MoMA looks just like a crumpled bed sheet.

Angelika Last weekend, we finally managed to visit the newly renovated San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, or SF MoMA for short. After a whopping three years of renovation, it reopened at the end of May 2016. They spent 305 Million Dollars on the new addition, right behind the old building, which had been designed by Mario Botta 20 years ago. The addition serves to host new works by various artists. The Fisher family, founders of the San Francisco based apparel store GAP, had loaned the museum a total of 1100 artistic works, but the old building simply didn't have enough space to put them all on display.

Figure [2]: Gold members like us receive free entrance tickets for SF MoMA.

I vividly remember that when we moved to San Francisco almost 20 years ago, everyone was complaining about the then new SF MoMA building and what looked like a gigantic ash tray sitting on its roof. But in the meantime, it's become an essential part of the skyline and no one can imagine it not being here anymore. So the new architects got the offer to design a new building that integrated well with the old one. The city awarded the Norwegian architect firm Snohetta with the contract, and they created a white building which looks a bit like a crumpled up blanket. But the interior is quite lofty, has a Scandinavian feel to it and is minimalistic and functional.

Figure [3]: Art lovers admire a painting by Chuck Close.

Figure [4]: The interior of the new SF MoMA resembles a Skandinavian furniture store.

What we liked best is that museum visitors can go outside on almost every floor, to enjoy views of the city. Many sculptures decorate these mezzanines, and one of them features a giant green wall of plants, which currently seems to be the hot spot everyone wants their picture to be taken in front of. Several cafes and restaurants invite even art sceptics. Aficinados of new art can indulge in works of Warhol, Lichtenstein, Calder, Rothko, Arbus, and many more. The entrance fee is $25 per person, children under 18 enjoy free admission. We've been members of the museum for decades and can go there free of charge whenever we feel like it. It is open every day (except Thanksgiving and the 25th of December), unlike other museums which are closed on Mondays. Swing by when you're in town!