Architect Jun Aoki was appointed as the new director of the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art (formerly the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art), which will undergo a grand reopening in the spring of 2020, effective April 1st. Aoki has been involved in the museum's redevelopment project since the design stage, and is listed as one of the principal designers for the new project, along with Tetsuo Nishizawa. Aoki has previously worked on numerous cultural facilities, including the Mito Art Museum (when he was with Arata Isozaki Atelier), the Lagoon Museum, and the Aomori Museum of Art, and Kyoto City has placed its hopes on his expertise and international recognition.
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
(Perspective view)
At his inauguration press conference, Aoki explained, "I was initially hesitant to be approached about taking on the role of director, which will be responsible for running the museum itself, given that my role is to design a space in which contemporary artists can work for the future. However, the path the museum should take and the direction it should aim for are similar to architectural design, so I accepted the role."
Completed in 1933 (Showa 8), the museum is the oldest public art building still standing in Japan. Designed by Kenjiro Maeda in the Imperial Crown style, the building has been beloved by Kyoto residents for its borrowed view of Higashiyama Mountain. This project is being undertaken to address various issues, such as earthquake resistance, as the building ages. "Rather than starting from scratch and rebuilding, we considered taking over the many layers of statues the museum has accumulated over the years and adding another layer of statues on top of them," said Aoki.
Glass Ribbon
Specifically, a cut was made in the forecourt on the west entrance and a slope was installed. The entrance was moved underground and a symbolic facade, named the "Glass Ribbon," was installed, integrating the inside and outside of the museum. "In this front garden plaza, contemporary artist Nomura Jin has exhibited works such as weathered cardboard architecture, and it is a valuable space in the city of Kyoto, so we wanted to preserve it as a plaza," says Aoki.
The main building will preserve as much of its historical design as possible while updating its facilities. A permanent exhibition room, which was not previously available in the building, will be newly established on the first floor of the south corridor, displaying masterpieces from the Kyoto art world, including works by Takeuchi Seihō and Uemura Shōen. The second floor of the south corridor will retain its original design and will be a space where works can be viewed in natural light. In addition, the former large exhibition room with a 16-meter ceiling located in the center of the main building, which Christo renovated in the 1970s, will serve as a central hall connected by a grand staircase from the main entrance lobby on the first basement floor, serving as a hub for each floor and corridor.
Main Building South Corridor and North Corridor
Main Building Central Hall
In particular, the addition of Higashiyama Cube as a contemporary art exhibition space has strengthened the east-west axis. The new building, which offers greater flexibility to accommodate diverse forms of expression, will enable the museum to actively promote works and events in genres such as contemporary art and subculture, which have previously been difficult to exhibit. The new building also features a rooftop garden with views of Higashiyama. The Japanese garden, designed by Ogawa Jihei VII, who also designed the gardens at the International House of Japan in Roppongi, Tokyo, will also host events featuring music, light, and art.
Higashiyama Cube
In addition to Higashiyama Cube, "The Triangle" will be built at the northwest entrance to serve as a venue for artists graduating from local art schools. It is planned to be used as a space for emerging artists.
The Triangle
Future schedule: operators for the museum shop, cafe, etc. will be decided this spring. Construction is scheduled to be completed at the end of October this year, and a pre-event will be held. The reopening is scheduled for March 21, 2020.
Text by Tatsuya Noda
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art(Perspective view)
At his inauguration press conference, Aoki explained, "I was initially hesitant to be approached about taking on the role of director, which will be responsible for running the museum itself, given that my role is to design a space in which contemporary artists can work for the future. However, the path the museum should take and the direction it should aim for are similar to architectural design, so I accepted the role."
Completed in 1933 (Showa 8), the museum is the oldest public art building still standing in Japan. Designed by Kenjiro Maeda in the Imperial Crown style, the building has been beloved by Kyoto residents for its borrowed view of Higashiyama Mountain. This project is being undertaken to address various issues, such as earthquake resistance, as the building ages. "Rather than starting from scratch and rebuilding, we considered taking over the many layers of statues the museum has accumulated over the years and adding another layer of statues on top of them," said Aoki.
Glass RibbonSpecifically, a cut was made in the forecourt on the west entrance and a slope was installed. The entrance was moved underground and a symbolic facade, named the "Glass Ribbon," was installed, integrating the inside and outside of the museum. "In this front garden plaza, contemporary artist Nomura Jin has exhibited works such as weathered cardboard architecture, and it is a valuable space in the city of Kyoto, so we wanted to preserve it as a plaza," says Aoki.
The main building will preserve as much of its historical design as possible while updating its facilities. A permanent exhibition room, which was not previously available in the building, will be newly established on the first floor of the south corridor, displaying masterpieces from the Kyoto art world, including works by Takeuchi Seihō and Uemura Shōen. The second floor of the south corridor will retain its original design and will be a space where works can be viewed in natural light. In addition, the former large exhibition room with a 16-meter ceiling located in the center of the main building, which Christo renovated in the 1970s, will serve as a central hall connected by a grand staircase from the main entrance lobby on the first basement floor, serving as a hub for each floor and corridor.
Main Building South Corridor and North CorridorMain Building Central HallIn particular, the addition of Higashiyama Cube as a contemporary art exhibition space has strengthened the east-west axis. The new building, which offers greater flexibility to accommodate diverse forms of expression, will enable the museum to actively promote works and events in genres such as contemporary art and subculture, which have previously been difficult to exhibit. The new building also features a rooftop garden with views of Higashiyama. The Japanese garden, designed by Ogawa Jihei VII, who also designed the gardens at the International House of Japan in Roppongi, Tokyo, will also host events featuring music, light, and art.
Higashiyama CubeIn addition to Higashiyama Cube, "The Triangle" will be built at the northwest entrance to serve as a venue for artists graduating from local art schools. It is planned to be used as a space for emerging artists.
The TriangleFuture schedule: operators for the museum shop, cafe, etc. will be decided this spring. Construction is scheduled to be completed at the end of October this year, and a pre-event will be held. The reopening is scheduled for March 21, 2020.
Text by Tatsuya Noda
