MoMA Atrium Calculations

Much of the measurement work from the Museum of Modern Art atrium is now complete. The following image gallery gives a sense of this process. Click on an image for more information.

Noting tile dimensions

Measuring doorway

Wall dimensions

Measuring atrium column

Recording spatial dimensions

Drawings and notation

Directing installation crew

Additionally, the Bernhardt Laboratories installation crew were afforded an opportunity to unload some provisional works for the Measuring MoMA project. These samples were brought into the museum’s loading bay and later into the atrium to test relationships between objects and to establish sightlines from various locations. The mock-ups used in this process were fairly rough, owing to the broad estimations of space in the atrium used prior to our opportunity to take these physical measurements. Based on comparisons between our drawings, models, and mock-ups against the physical dimensions of the atrium, some retooling of elements has proven necessary, as we expected. Details of this project (except those already revealed) will remain under wraps until further notice.

Preview of the MoMA Project Drawings

Our laboratory directors recently met to discuss the release of images from project proposals still in progress. All concerns were addressed, and after full consideration Bernhardt Laboratories determined that a selection of images would be published here so certain of our supporters could see where their support funds are going. We think this level of disclosure is important for future project support and outweighs the concern for protecting ideas that have not been fully released. More like teasers than full-fledged documentation of our project, the following images represent just a few of the drafted drawings being made by the drawing laboratory for the MoMA project.

The ground plan of the atrium as envisioned by the drawing laboratory.

The rocket unit.

The cloud conveyor unit, seen without the applied cloud texture.

MoMA Project Headway

The Bernhardt Laboratories installation crew will be in New York May 14-21, 2008. During this time we will compare our initial work on the MoMA project against the space of the atrium on site. Some aspect of measuring will occur in order to refine our current plans for installation. The future of the project will be determined by our evaluation of the space as compared with our initial estimations. It is conceivable that the project could remain unchanged or that it may undergo drastic reevaluation, but much of this is dependent on the judgments of the installation crew. It is yet undecided if the creative director will visit the project site at this time.

Measuring MoMA

Bernhardt Laboratories will soon be working on a new project at the Museum of Modern Art. The project is called “Measuring MoMA” and indicates just that: the installation crew of Bernhardt Laboratories will be measuring the floor space, wall dimensions, and various ceiling heights of the atrium at MoMA in preparation for our installation (pending). At this time the work is in Design Phase 1, as the Laboratories have yet to secure a warehouse space locally which will accommodate the built structures that will eventually inhabit the MoMA atrium. For now, these structures will exist as proposals until such time as the exact dimensions can be delivered to us. We are now engaged in Rehearsal Phase 1 as we prepare drawings for proposed built structures. The preparatory drawings will likely be a major component of the installation, giving evidence of the various stages of production and contrasting the end result or final phase of design.