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7 Museum Architectures with Attractive Designs & Concepts 【Kanto Area】

The lingering summer heat has subsided, and autumn has gradually arrived in full swing.
When you think of autumn, what about the season comes to mind? Autumn is a season when people enjoy sports, reading, and eating…. One more thing that cannot be missed is the season of the arts. In this issue, we would like to introduce some art museum architecture in the Kanto region. We have gathered a number of buildings with appealing concepts that make the most of their locations.
Why not visit an art museum during this pleasant season and experience some wonderful art and spaces?

CONTENTS

Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art, Ibaraki
Stone Plaza – Nasu Ashino Stone Museum, Tochigi
Gunma Museum of Art, Tatebayashi
Kawagoe City Art Museum, Saitama
Ichihara Kohan Art Museum, Chiba
SOMPO Museum of Art, Tokyo
POLA Museum of Art, Kanagawa

１．Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art, Ibaraki

Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art, Ibaraki is located on the Izura Coast, which is said to be the preferred location of Tenshin Okakura, and was opened as a place where visitors can view the outstanding works of Tenshin Okakura, Taikan Yokoyama, and other artists from Izura. The museum and observatory offer a beautiful view of the coast.

The architecture was designed by Naito Hiroshi, who has worked on numerous public facilities. The most impressive point of the design are the beams with a strong presence visible from the main entrance. The thin, precast concrete beams are arranged in the form of trusses, creating a stunning and powerful impression.

２． Stone Plaza – Nasu Ashino Stone Museum, Tochigi

Originally a stone warehouse built in the Taisho and early Showa periods, this stone museum was reconstructed by architect Kengo Kuma. Located in Ashino, Nasu-cho, one of the leading stone production areas in Tochigi Prefecture, Ashino and Shirakawa stones mined on the land and in the neighborhood are used. The building is composed of several spaces, and the space where outside light can be seen through is a room with unique masonry. The stone tea ceremony room, the first of its kind in Japan, is a must-see. In addition, the all-stone space is an exciting place to learn about the history of stone, mining and finishing methods, and other topics in the gallery where special exhibitions are held regularly.

３．Gunma Museum of Art, Tatebayashi

Tatara-numa, Tatebayashi City, Gunma Prefecture, was chosen as an appropriate location for the museum’s theme of “the relationship between nature and humans”. The Tatara River to the north, wetlands to the southeast, and rice paddies to the southwest surround the museum. In order to minimize the lines dividing the space, the design was simplified as much as possible by utilizing materials such as stone, aluminum, glass, and water, and is beautifully integrated with the surrounding rich natural landscape.
The annex, with exhibits by François Pompon, was designed to resemble a farmhouse in the Burgundy region of France, with European roof tiles and limestone piles that are completely different from the stylish main building. This museum is a win-win situation for architecture lovers.

４．Kawagoe City Art Museum, Saitama

Kawagoe City Museum of Art is located in Kawagoe, a land of historical townscape. It is surrounded by the Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten and the City Museum, which is on the former site of Ninomaru next door. The building’s design has an exterior inspired local culture by Kawagoe merchant house of kurazukuri style. Using white plaster walls and Japanese roof tiles, the building harmonized with the remaining historic buildings, while mixing in modern materials brought a freshness to the kurazukuri style.
If you walk a bit further, you can enjoy the streets of Koedo Kawagoe Ichibangai, where traditional kurazukuri architecture stands in full splendor. Recommend for those who are interested in historical buildings.

５．Ichihara Kohan Art Museum, Chiba

The Ichihara Lakeside Art Museum is a nature-rich art museum located on the banks of Lake Takataki, which boasts the largest reservoir area in Chiba Prefecture. Based on the concept of “an oasis in the metropolitan area”, the museum was created as an art museum in the form of the renovation of a tourism and cultural facility that opened in 1995, a place rooted in the community where children can enjoy and have a new experience.
Utilizing the unique framework of the existing building, various spaces are created by inserting a lead-plated iron plate wall called the “Art Wall”. There is also an observation tower and a restaurant in the surrounding area, allowing visitors to experience the timelessness of architecture while experiencing artworks in the midst of nature. It is truly an art museum to be enjoyed with all five senses.

６．Sompo Museum of Art, Tokyo

The SOMPO Museum of Art was opened in 1967 as part of the SOMPO Group’s contribution to society. It is known as the only museum in Asia where Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” can be viewed.
The exterior and interior spaces of the museum was completely renewed at the time of its relocation in 2020. The building was designed with soft curves and curved surfaces, as if the building were a sculpture-like work of art. The entrance is made of a glass curtain wall, 16 meters wide and 8 meters high, with a gentle arc of glass that connects the building to the cityscape, creating a transparent and open museum.

７．POLA Museum of Art, Kanagawa

The Pola Museum of Art, located in the forest in Hakone City, Kanagawa Prefecture, exhibits a collection of more than 9,500 items collected by the late Tsuneji Suzuki, former chairman of the Pola Group, over a 40-year period. Based on the concept of “the symbiosis of art and nature in Hakone,” the building is kept at a height of only 8 meters so as not to encroach on the trees in the forest, and the museum expresses the harmony of art and nature by placing priority on preserving the natural landscape. In order to create a museum interior with abundant light and greenery, the use of a large amount of glass was meticulously planned and calculated. Therefore, even if you are underground, natural light will flood into the museum, allowing you to enjoy the natural beauty of Hakone and its art.

Introduced here is some museum architecture in Kanto, Japan.
We hope you will enjoy the “Art of Autumn” by experiencing this art and architecture.

Sources:
https://www.tenshin.museum.ibk.ed.jp/01_annai/01_gaiyou.html
http://www.stone-plaza.com/information/story.htm
http://www.gmat.pref.gunma.jp/index.html
https://www.artagenda.jp/museum/detail/76
https://lsm-ichihara.jp/about/
https://www.sompo-japan.co.jp/csr/culture/museum/
https://www.polamuseum.or.jp/nature/architecture/

GARDE Designs Office for SThree K.K. in Historical Ginza Area.

Project

SThree K.K. is a global recruitment firm specializing in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field. Establishing their first office in London, SThree K.K. now has 44 offices in 15 countries around the world. GARDE was involved in the interior design, construction supervision, and FF&E coordination of their Tokyo office.

The office is located in a modern building connected to the Kabuki theater in the heart of the historical Ginza area. This contradiction sets the scene for the unveiling of this exciting workplace conceived and built in less than 6 months. The diverse and inclusive brand message of the company is captured through a multi-cultural design theme expressing strength in the sum of its parts.

The concept is inspired by the fusion of Western and Japanese culture into an open agile working environment that focuses on recruitment for the STEM industries. The project is highlighted by an ambient reception space with spot-lighted sub brands and a collection of minimalist meeting rooms. A futuristic portal then transports you to a cozy social hub complete with a billiard table, pub bar, and poker table expressing the Client’s deep UK roots.

A video of the completed office can be viewed at the following link.
click here

■Project Director Profile
Christopher Brooks, AIA
International Design Division, General Manager, Design Director，American Institute of Architects (AIA), Master’s degree in Architecture.

He has experience in retail, office and residential design in the United States, Japan, and other parts of Asia. His key projects are the restaurant ADD in Marco Polo Hotel Hong Kong, Bandai Namco Studios Headquarters, adidas Japan Headquarters (Asia Pacific Property Awards 2015), and MetLife Japan Headquarters (Herman Miller Liveable Office Award, IDA Gold & Silver awards 2018).

■Project Team
Nagisa Miura, Naoto Sudo, Francesco Ristori, Takanori Tsukiyasu, Daisuke Suzuki

■Scope of work
Interior Design, Construction Supervision, FF&E coordination

■Property Information
Name: SThree K.K. (Office design)
Location: Kabukiza Tower 9F, Ginza 4-12-15, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Store area: 1,315㎡

Design for〝Beijing Xidan JoyCity 2F Jewelry Theme Zone″Wins DNA Paris Design Awards 2022.

Trend

The DNA Paris Design Award was established in Paris in 2019 by the Farmani Group and a creative collective known as “In Between”.

The Farmani Group is also an organizer of the International Design Award (IDA), the Architecture Master Prize (AMP), the European Product Design Award (EPDA), the Paris Photo Award (PX3), the London International Creative Awards (LICC), the International Photography Awards (IPA) and the Lucy Photography Awards, which is considered the most prestigious photography awards in the world.

In Between is a Paris-based collective of philosophers and creators who come together to create something new and unprecedented.
From the launch of the fashion brand 〝Supermarket Paris“, to rooftop construction and design, to the production of content and documentaries, the collective continues to inspire the world as a group that pushes the borders of what it means to be a complex thinker.

The DNA Paris Design Award is an international award recognized by design professionals around the world, presenting and celebrating the achievements of architects and designers whose practical, beautiful, and innovative designs can improve our daily lives.

The ‘Beijing Xidan JoyCity 2F Jewelry Zone‘ is not a classical space that emphasizes the luxury of a traditional jewelry shop, but rather a “BrandMix“ that includes a casual café space。The result is a “self-first” space with diversity.

The concept keywords are (1) “Mine” (jewelry mine/one’s own) and (2) “Shine” (the sparkle of the jewelry/life), derived from the characteristics of the jewelry. To realize the concept, the design was inspired by the image of a soft, bright, clean, and calm jewelry mine.

The result is a wonderful space with a sense of unity as a zone, that also respects the concept and spatial expression of each brand.

Every year, GARDE actively engages in PR activities to promote design spaces and design excellence by entering several national and international design awards.

◆Click here for award results: https://dna.paris/winner/zoom.php?eid=71-88846-22

VMware Japan Office Wins “5 Star” Award at the International Property Awards, Asia-Pacific Category!

Trend

The VMware Japan office designed by GARDE was awarded a “5 Star” award in the Interior Design Awards/Office Interior category of The Asia Pacific Property Awards.

Now in their 29th year, the International Property Awards are judged by a panel of over 80 industry experts, with a focus on design, quality, service, innovation, originality, and commitment to sustainability.

The International Propety Award is widely recognized worldwide as a highly prestigious design award.

The Asia Pacific Property Awards are the most recognized design awards in Asia, with many properties entering each year to compete in terms of design, quality, innovation, and originality.

Among a large number of entries, the design of the VMware Japan office was selected as a 5 Star entry.

VMware, Hong Kong and Indonesia were the only three properties in Asia to receive the “5 Star” award, and the only one from Japan.

The International Propety Award is proof that the office designs created by GARDE are comprehensively superior in terms of “quality”, “service”, “innovation”, “originality” and “sustainability”. Designs created by GARDE will continue to develop into the future with high expectations for the potential of GARDE’s designs.

Every year, GARDE actively engages in PR activities to promote design spaces and design excellence by entering several national and international design awards.

International Propety Award official website：https://propertyawards.net/

Click here to see the award results：https://propertyawards.net/region/asia-pacific/

GARDE to Design the Clubhouse for Hong Kong’s No.1 Developer, Henderson Land’s “BAKER CIRCLE ONE”!

Project

GARDE designed the clubhouse for BAKER CIRCLE ONE, the first phase of Baker Circle, a large redevelopment complex project in the Hong Ham area by Henderson Land, the No. 1 developer in Hong Kong. GARDE designed the clubhouse for BAKER CIRCLE ONE.

The clubhouse, based on the concept of “Blooming”, employs elements with a “Japanese” feel. We designed a minimalist, fresh shared space.

On June 21 (Tue), a large-scale press conference was held for the Hong Kong media, and GARDE’s President Mr. Muro and design director, Mr. Saito, participated remotely on behalf of GARDE.

We then interviewed the design director, Arata Saito, who was in charge of the design of BAKER CIRCLE ONE’s clubhouse.

■About the design concept

First, the client asked us if we could create a design with a Japanese motif. Since a normal reproduction of a Japanese space in Hong Kong would be too colorful, we decided to provide an unusual design with Japanese elements.

In this context, we have designed an elegant space that is wrapped in an organic atmosphere such as a flower petal, while using the shades of light as the key concepts. It is a space where you can feel the 365 days of time pass and the changing of the seasons. The soft and elegant curves of the petals were used as a motif to create a fluid and gentle atmosphere through the use of materials, colors,and lighting.

For example, we did not use very strong lighting, but, rather, used a lot of indirect light. The walls and ceilings were kept as simple as possible, and the shadows of petals and greenery cast by the indirect light spread over them, giving the space a deep, restful feeling.

Of course, each season is influenced by the environment, but we hope that you will see this as a plus and enjoy experiencing each moment created by the changing seasons and time.

■Baker Circle One Clubhouse Design Features

We designed each of the three buildings as shared spaces with different functions and purposes so that friends, family, and residents can use them in their own way and with their own hobbies and interests.

Indoors, there are cultural activities such as a yoga space and library. Outdoor activities include a rooftop garden, fruit garden, BBQ site, playground, and activities such as a rooftop garden, fruit garden, BBQ site, playground, and urban farm, making it a unique and highly satisfying space.

■About Lounge Design

We have designed lounges for each of the three buildings. In this issue, we will discuss the lounge designs for two of the three buildings.

The design of the first building (Top Image), with its beautiful cherry blossom trees that seem to depict the life force of nature as is, is impressive. By eliminating the boundary between the outdoors and the indoors, we planned the space to be as spacious and rich as possible within the narrow living environment of Hong Kong.

In addition, in order to fulfill the various needs of users, the wall side is designed as a multi-function wall. This is a place where the sharing of space is strongly emphasized due to the diverse use of the space.

The staircase leading to the rooftop garden on the third floor has a bold curved design that expresses the softness of the space.

Next, the design of the second building (Image 1) was designed with the intention of creating a more Japanese feel, and the use of latticework, as well as andon-style wall surfaces, and rough-finished stones further emphasize the shadows.

By daring to switch the design of the flooring and the ceiling, we created a space where people can spend time comfortably and feel a sense of peace by giving the space a sense of liveliness.

■About Yoga Room Design

We designed a yoga room as one for cultural activities. The large windows overlooking all four sides allow plenty of natural light to pour in, while the low-brightness lighting and curvilinear design of the ceiling create a sense of openness and soft light that softly envelops the body and mind.
In addition, the warmth of the wood flooring may be described as a “yoga space in the sky” that relaxes not only the body but also the mind.

■About Library Design

The entire space is unified by the earthy tones, with fin-like wall surfaces, wavy latticework, and skylights that resemble flower petals.
From the ceiling floods a sparkling natural light similar to the brilliance of water, and the balcony space with its lush fruit garden allows you to feel the airiness of the plants. We have created a space where you can experience the luxury of being surrounded by nature while still being in the big city.

■About Art Space Design

The simple wood-based space is filled with soft natural light, and together with the various artworks, we believe that visitors will be able to feel the slow flow of time.
The ceiling is made up of rounded parts, and wooden chairs are used to incorporate a playful spirit that reminds us of the free creations we made in our childhood gardens.
We designed this space to be a gentle place where people can forget the hustle and bustle of daily life and calm their minds.

■About Staycation Room Design

With the restrictions of international travel still in place, we designed a space where people can experience “wa”, or Japanese sensibilities, which is an extraordinary experience. By adopting materials that are “wa” in terms of both sight and smell, such as tatami mats, latticework, and washi paper lighting, we were able to express a minimalist, lean, “wa” atmosphere.

■About Gym Space Design

Brilliant outside light pours in through the wide-open windows, and skylights on the exterior portions of the building create a sense of openness. Roman shades were employed to adjust the amount of sunlight.
The wall accented with soft curves is based on the motif of Japanese folding screens. We hope you can feel the “harmony” here as well.

■Desiner Profile
Arata Saito　　 Design Division, Design Department, Design Director, First Class Registered Architect