MO – muziejus šalia miesto vartų

Abstract

When a new building appears in town, it always gets people talking, especially if it is a public building. Discussions and conversations about the Mo Museum of Modern Art, which was born out of V. and D. Butkus’s idea to privately fund the construction of such a building, and the initial design contest in 2010, have been going on even after its construction in a different place than initially planned. Whatever you may think of the building: whether you find it unique, interesting, or hideous, the conclusion is the same: everyone has an opinion about it. After several years of discussions about building a private museum in the city, the first contest was held, with a total of 57 ideas submitted for the design of the building that was supposed to appear on the bank of Neris, near the National Gallery of Art. 'The second prize winners DO Architects became the supporting team for the world-renowned Daniel Libeskind architecture studio in designing what is now the finished museum. Intertwined public and closed spaces of the building was the main principle used by D. Libeskind in designing the museum. Perhaps not incidentally V. and D. Butkus chose DO Architects to aid him, who had presented similar ideas in their proposal for a museum on the bank of Neris - guided by similar values, it was easier to discuss, discover and reach the best option. Looks like the Lithuanian team became an excellent communicator and mediator between the two sides - Studio Libeskind and the client, because the result was achieved quickly, while working in a stable and consistent manner, and the building itself still sparks in-depth discussions within the public. The Mo Museum of Modern art is the only one in the Baltic region and is the smallest museum ever designed by D. Libeskind, yet it definitely boasts unique qualities, being one of the most laconic, modest buildings and carefully observing its surroundings.