The Architecture of the
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Introduction

From its very beginnings the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum has been a hub for new art and new ideas. The museum was designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright to house an innovative collection of works in a unique environment. Today, the museum continues to be a landmark destination that attracts visitors from around the world.

This curriculum module is designed as a resource for educators to help introduce the unique architecture and history of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum to students. It can be used on its own in the classroom, as preparation for a visit to the museum, or afterward as post-visit lessons. Although the primary goal of this guide is to introduce the museum’s unique architecture, many of the suggested discussions and activities can be used to explore the history, design, and use of any chosen building.

The guide is arranged according to the following sequence:

	TEACHER INFORMATION includes a history of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and biographies of those figures critical to its founding. [more]
	VIEW + DISCUSS walks you through a guided tour of the museum’s architecture with opportunities for careful looking and for discovering unique aspects of the building. [more]
	FURTHER EXPLORATIONS activities that respond to the architecture of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Frank Lloyd Wright’s approach to architectural design through discussion, writing, and the visual arts. [more]
	ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Vocabulary and definitions for words and phrases that may be new to students, or used within a special context (i.e., avant-garde, non-objective art). A list of suggested books, videos, and Web sites that relate directly to this curriculum module. Selected color images for class-wide viewing and discussion. Teachers are encouraged to adapt the lessons and activities in this curriculum module to meet the needs of their students. [more]