Function or folly? Philip Johnson’s pavilion for pre-Columbian art in Washington DC

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nestled within the gardens of Dumbarton Oaks in Washington DC is a modern pavilion for viewing art, designed by Philip Johnson in 1963. Johnson utilised a circular module organised into a three-by-three grid, with an open courtyard in the centre. Each module is encased by glass walls, as Johnson wanted to merge nature and architecture. The building is outfitted in a minimal palette of luxurious materials, with an aesthetic that pulls stylistically from Johnson’s travels. With no programmatic or budgetary constraints, Johnson was able to design conceptually, similar to his own projects where he designed small structures with little purpose, termed follies. Critically acclaimed yet lesser-known, the pavilion has not been analysed as a museum. As such, this article asks the question, is this structure merely a folly or does it function as a space to exhibit and view the pre-Columbian objects in the collection?