PA | Summary

The National Gallery of Art is located in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capitol. Thus, it sits amongst many historical buildings, many of which are in a Classical Revival style. While the main building of the National Gallery of Art fits in well with the surroundings, while the East Building of the National Gallery of Art sits in stark contrast to the buildings around it, and perhaps has more to do with the way the land is structured around it.

As a gallery, it must not only hold artwork, but also meet certain needs for the artwork held within it, as well as hold people who come to view the artwork. The gallery rooms are quite dim, not allowing light damage to the pieces held within them. In contrast, the central atrium of the building is filled with light, due to its skylights and windows. This atrium also allows for a less crowded feeling when the building is at high capacity.

However, this building does not only hold art, but can be seen as a piece of art in itself. It utilizes triangles at every opportunity, from minute detail to large scale, as the building itself is a triangle. Even the panes of glass for the skylights are triangular. The triangle shape is used as portions of the façade jut inward, yet the exterior seems to remain relatively flat. The building is clear and straightforward, yet more intricate than it at first seems, building off of a solid concept.

As portions of the building jut inward, darker spaces appear on the otherwise clearly sunlit façade. This contrast of light versus dark is used strongly throughout the building. With this light and dark, there is a certain amount of compression and release that occurs. The visitor goes from the expansive outdoors into the entrance, which closes comfortably upon the visitor. Once inside, the building seems relatively dark, yet beyond this is the atrium, through which light pours from windows and skylights. Looking up, the lightness is broken by pedestrian bridges crossing the span, as well as a piece of artwork, which also utilizes the triangular form. As the visitor ventures to the galleries, a compression happens again. The darkness that occurs in the gallery rooms is to keep the pieces from light damage and to increase focus on the pieces by creating a more dramatic effect. As the visitor moves in and out from gallery room to the next, the well-lit, stone atrium acts as a sort of palette cleanser.

I.M. Pei’s East Building of the National Gallery of Art fulfills its purpose well. It stands out from its surroundings, just as the pieces it holds stand out from other works. It is special and intricate, yet plain, putting an emphasis on the artwork inside; and yet the complex simplicity of the structure is what makes it a work of art in and of itself. The building still looks contemporary (since not all buildings from the 1970’s do). But will it stand the test of time as the classical style buildings surrounding it have? Only hundreds of years will tell.