Another day, another fantastic museum in Roppongi – 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT sits in an unassuming corner of the up-market Tokyo Midtown (東京ミッドタウン) complex and was conceived by fashion designer Issey Miyake (三宅 一生) and architect Tadao Ando (安藤 忠雄).
It’s hard to describe the building, such are its tardis-like dimensions, but it basically consists of two floors – one above and one below ground.
The unique triangular roof is made from giant steel plates that slope gently down to the ground, hiding the larger structure buried beneath it.
Its aesthetics are beautifully simple and uniquely Japanese, once again proving that they are the masters of making concrete look good.
Inside, the ground floor houses the entrance and reception area, while the underground floor houses two galleries and a triangular sunken court.
At ground level, a narrow slit in the concrete wall allows for a glimpse of the pathway running parallel to the building while on the opposite side a huge glazed window lets light into the underground level via a sunken outdoor courtyard.
The name “21_21 DESIGN SIGHT” is a play on the English expression “20/20 vision” for perfect sight, hinting at the need to look beyond the here and now to the future in the design process.
Neat stacking chairs.
Currently, the museum is hosting an excellent exhibition “COLOR-HUNTING” directed by Dai Fujiwara – well worth a visit.
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