The Whitney Museum of American Art was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1966. Because Michael Graves' 1985 expansion plan fell through, the Modern Brutalism of Breuer's original design is basically preserved. Graves' plan would have overwhelmed the modest size of the original. Sometimes failures are a good thing too.

Personally, I like to see art here. The small footprint gives each section manageable size, with enough room for adequate depth. The reinforced concrete ceilings are interesting, and the spaces below them flexible. The cafe and shop are easily accessible, but it doesn't feel like seeing art in a mall. There are no grand halls or impressive vistas, your attention is focused upon the art and not on the spectacle of the place.

The Whitney Museum of American Art
Madison Ave. and E 75th St. New York, New York.
Marcel Breuer, 1966.

Some information comes from:
Newhouse, Victoria. "Towards a New Museum." The Monacelli Press, New York, 1998. ISBN 1-885254-60-1.