The new Suntory Museum of Art located in the green-rich section of Tokyo Midtown was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Kengo Kuma. Based on a concept of "Japanese Modernism" combining the traditional and contemporary elements of Japan, its exterior is finished with louvers of a white-porcelain look that adds a sense of transparency to the appearance. The interior toned with wood and Japanese paper gives natural warmth with the soft light often found in traditional Japanese settings, and creates a soothing and inviting atmosphere as a "parlor" of the city, the architect's design goal. The gallery covering the 3rd and 4th floors provides approximately 1,000 m2 exhibition space, twice as large as what it was previously. The 10m high stairwell is equipped with a lighting control system inspired by an old-fashioned lattice window design known as "musougoushi" and enables the complete blocking of sunlight if an exhibition requires. The new building also offers a hall on the 6th floor for lectures and events such as education programs or for receptions; and a tea-ceremony room, "Genchôan , designed to utilize about 70% of the old museum's tea-ceremony room. The new museum shop integrated with a cafe, "shop × cafe (shop by cafe)", can be found on the 3rd floor for a leisurely pastime after a gallery tour. Also, the floor is partially constructed with recycled whiskey casks throughout the museum.
[Architect]
Kengo Kuma & Associates + Nikken Sekkei Ltd.
[Constructor·Mechanical Work·Atmosphere Inspection]
Takenaka Corporation
[Total Area]
Approx. 4,700m2 (50,590 ft2)
[Exhibition Area]
Approx. 1,000m2 (10,746 ft2)
[Additional Facilities]
Repository, shop, cafe, tea-ceremony room, hall, and member's salon.
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"Gallery - 3rd Floor and the Stairwell" |
"Gallery - 4th Floor" |
