Abstract: The aim of this article is to offer a panorama of the trends in the architecture of contemporary art museums built in Spain since 1997. Based on previous bibliography - paying particular attention to statements by architects -, we summarise our review in contrasting dichotomies. The first, and apparently the most basic, would oppose the rehabilitation of preexisting buildings to new constructions, but the delimitation between both fronts is not always clear. Neither is obvious to us the oft-touted bipolarity between the stardom of the iconic building that imposes itself on the surroundings, whose greatest exponent would be the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, versus a new architecture of more social and sustainable proximity, and less burdensome. Perhaps in times of low tide the underlying currents of ideas in the theoretical discourses of our architects and scholars have resurfaced. However, in our final considerations we argue that the influence of Frank Gehry's "sculptural" masterpiece continues to mark our museums, despite the commoner positioning, in words and deeds, for a return to previous traditions.

Authorship

Download reference