A New Way
of Seeing Art
Architecture, cultural identity and the connections between artworks across time and place.
Photo: ArchEyes Magazine · CC BY 4.0. Photo and license
VIDEO · SPEAKING · READING · VOCABULARY · GRAMMAR
The David Geffen Galleries at LACMA
Watch the video and pay attention to the architecture, the exhibition layout and the relationship between artworks from different cultures and periods.
The building
Photograph: ArchEyes Magazine. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Original photograph and license.
Before watching
At the museum
Photo: 颐园居 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo and license.
Alex: Wow! This place looks completely different from the museums we've visited before.
Sophie: I know. I was expecting a traditional layout, with ancient art in one section and modern paintings in another.
Alex: Same here. But look at that sculpture next to the contemporary installation. They're from completely different periods!
Sophie: That's what I find fascinating. They're being brought together to create a conversation between different cultures and historical periods.
Alex: Do you think the artists intended their works to be connected in this way?
Sophie: Probably not. But that's the interesting part. We can discover connections that might not have been obvious at first glance.
Alex: I see what you mean. That ancient sculpture seems to share something with the modern piece beside it.
Sophie: Exactly. And I like the fact that we're not being told what to think. We're encouraged to interpret the artworks for ourselves.
Alex: What do you think of the architecture?
Sophie: It's impressive, but not overwhelming. Peter Zumthor has designed a building that seems to let the art speak for itself.
Alex: I agree. It's almost as if the building and the collection were conceived as one experience.
Sophie: We should spend more time here. I have a feeling we'll notice completely different things the second time we walk through the galleries.
Alex: Absolutely. Let's take another look at that installation.
Vocabulary in context
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A traditional layout | A conventional arrangement |
| Side by side | Next to each other |
| To bring together | To combine or connect |
| At first glance | When first seen |
| To share something | To have something in common |
| To interpret | To explain the meaning of something |
| Overwhelming | Extremely impressive or difficult to take in |
| To speak for itself | To communicate without explanation |
A museum without boundaries
Rethinking the museum experience
For more than two decades, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art worked on an ambitious project that would transform the way visitors experience its collection. With an investment of over $700 million from public and private sources, the museum created the David Geffen Galleries, a monumental architectural project designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor.
Rather than following the traditional model of displaying artworks according to a strict chronological sequence, the new galleries offer a different approach. Ancient masterpieces can be found alongside contemporary works, creating unexpected relationships between objects that may be separated by thousands of years.
The collection spans approximately 6,000 years of human creativity. Visitors are invited to move through the galleries freely, discovering visual and cultural connections between different civilizations, artistic traditions and historical periods.
This approach challenges the idea that art should be understood through a hierarchy of cultures or geographical regions. Instead, the museum presents art history as an ongoing conversation between the past, the present and the future.
The building itself also plays an important role in this experience. Designed by Peter Zumthor, its architecture reflects a contemporary vision of what a museum can be. It is not simply a container for valuable objects; it is an environment in which architecture, art and the visitor's personal interpretation become part of the same experience.
Ultimately, the new galleries invite visitors to look beyond familiar categories and reconsider how we understand art, history and cultural identity.
Reading comprehension · Choose the correct answer
The passive voice
When describing museums, buildings, exhibitions and works of art, we frequently use the passive voice because the object or result is more important than the person performing the action.
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| Peter Zumthor designed the building. | The building was designed by Peter Zumthor. |
| The museum displays ancient sculptures. | Ancient sculptures are displayed in the museum. |
| Curators have organized the collection. | The collection has been organized by curators. |
| The museum will introduce new exhibitions. | New exhibitions will be introduced. |
Different tenses
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Present simple | The artworks are displayed together. |
| Past simple | The building was designed in Switzerland. |
| Present perfect | The collection has been organized. |
| Future | New exhibitions will be introduced. |
| Modal | The artworks can be interpreted differently. |
| Modal perfect | The collection might have been arranged deliberately. |
By vs. through
BY introduces the agent: The building was designed by Peter Zumthor.
THROUGH introduces the means or process: Visitors learn through personal exploration.
Rewrite the sentences
Rewrite each sentence in the passive voice. Type the complete sentence. Check your answers when you're ready.
Complete the sentences
Use the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Pay attention to the tense.
Match the expressions
Select the correct definition for each expression.
Use the expressions
Choose three expressions and use them to describe a museum, exhibition or work of art you have seen.
Reacting to an art collection
Choose the most natural expression for each situation.
Beyond the museum
Final speaking task
Imagine you have just visited the David Geffen Galleries. Give a two-minute review describing the architecture, the collection, your favorite discovery and your overall impression.
Use at least three passive constructions and five expressions from the vocabulary sections.
Architect profile | Peter Zumthor
Swiss architect • Pritzker Prize laureate • Master of materials, light and atmosphere
Peter Zumthor
Architect and designer
| Born | April 26, 1943 |
| Birthplace | Basel, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Profession | Architect |
| Studio | Haldenstein, Switzerland |
| Practice founded | 1979 |
| Major award | 2009 Pritzker Architecture Prize |
| Known for | Atmospheric spaces, natural materials, craftsmanship and sensitive use of light |
Biography
Peter Zumthor was born in Basel, Switzerland, in 1943. His father was a cabinet-maker, and Zumthor initially followed a similar path, training as a cabinet-maker between 1958 and 1962.
He went on to study design in Basel and architecture and design at Pratt Institute in New York. Early in his career, he worked for the Department for the Preservation of Monuments in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, where he studied historic buildings and settlements.
In 1979, he established his own architectural practice in Haldenstein, a small village in the Swiss Alps. His approach is associated with careful attention to the location, purpose and materials of each building.
Selected architectural projects
Three buildings that demonstrate Zumthor's interest in materials, light, atmosphere and the relationship between architecture and its surroundings.
What makes his architecture distinctive?
Zumthor is known for creating buildings that appeal to the senses. Rather than relying on dramatic shapes alone, he pays close attention to the experience of being inside a space.
His work often explores the texture of materials, the movement of natural light, the sound of a room, the temperature of a space and the relationship between a building and its surroundings.
Stone, wood, concrete, glass and other materials are selected for their physical and sensory qualities.
Natural light is carefully controlled to shape the atmosphere of interior spaces.
Buildings are designed in response to their particular landscape, history and setting.
Construction details and the quality of materials are central to the design.
Recognitions and awards
Carlsberg Architecture Prize
Praemium Imperiale for Architecture
Pritzker Architecture Prize
Royal Gold Medal, Royal Institute of British Architects
Further reading and references
Explore these sources for more information about Zumthor's life, work and architectural philosophy.
Portrait: KovacsDaniel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. View image and license.
Therme Vals: Gunnar Klack, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. View image and license.
Kunsthaus Bregenz: Jjuergensen, Wikimedia Commons. View image and license.
Kolumba Museum: Ldelagarzag, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. View image and license.