MoMA demolition of folk art museum “only option”: architect

American Folk Art Museum building at West 53rd Street (Inset: Elizabeth Diller)
American Folk Art Museum building at West 53rd Street (Inset: Elizabeth Diller)

Architect Elizabeth Diller defended the Museum of Modern Art’s decision to tear down the former American Folk Art Museum to allow for expansion, arguing at a presentation last night that it was “the only option.”

The MoMA floor heights conflict with the layout of the American Folk Art Museum, and ramps connecting the two museum would not work, said Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the architecture firm handling the project.

Despite a push by the architects to incorporate the building into their plans, MoMA confirmed earlier this month that it would proceed with demolition plans, as previously reported. The demolition is expected to occur by June.

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“The hope is that you would take your responsibility to the building as seriously as you take your responsibility to your discipline,” architectural adviser Karen Stein said in response to Diller at the event, as Curbed reported.

The MoMA rebuild will connect to Hines’ planned 1,050-foot-tall Torre Verre. In October, the Jean Nouvel-designed project secured about $1 billion in financing, allowing the plan to move ahead after being stuck in limbo for a number of years . [Curbed]Mark Maurer