Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
Architect Mies van der Rohe famously said “God is in the details.” That could be the motto for the Cooper-Hewitt, which has made a name for itself by taking subjects from the world of design—cutlery or superstrong textiles, say—and dissecting them down to their foundational elements, in a way that enraptures the visitor.
That textile exhibit, as an example, showcased a wide range of unusual fabrics, like the material used in space suits, artistically strung netting that stops soil erosion, and a shoulder implant that looks like a crocheted snowflake (it moves inside the body with the flexibility of a sweater).
More recent exhibits have unpacked how people are shaped by domestic spaces; how design enhances and visualizes musical experiences; and the role design could play in achieving world peace.
All of the exhibits take place in the baronial manor house of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, so part of the fun of visiting is seeing the bones of this exquisite home (take some time to study the interactive panels that show historic photos of different rooms within the home).
The Cooper-Hewitt is a branch of the Smithsonian, and the only design museum in the nation to cover both contemporary and traditional design, which gives its exhibits a breadth and depth that are quite unusual for this subject matter.
Architect Mies van der Rohe famously said “God is in the details.” That could be the motto for the Cooper-Hewitt, which has made a name for itself by taking subjects from the world of design—cutlery or superstrong textiles, say—and dissecting them down to their foundational elements, in a way that enraptures the visitor.
That textile exhibit, as an example, showcased a wide range of unusual fabrics, like the material used in space suits, artistically strung netting that stops soil erosion, and a shoulder implant that looks like a crocheted snowflake (it moves inside the body with the flexibility of a sweater).
More recent exhibits have unpacked how people are shaped by domestic spaces; how design enhances and visualizes musical experiences; and the role design could play in achieving world peace.
All of the exhibits take place in the baronial manor house of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, so part of the fun of visiting is seeing the bones of this exquisite home (take some time to study the interactive panels that show historic photos of different rooms within the home).
The Cooper-Hewitt is a branch of the Smithsonian, and the only design museum in the nation to cover both contemporary and traditional design, which gives its exhibits a breadth and depth that are quite unusual for this subject matter.
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