Yokosuka Museum of Art | Japan-Guides Home

type

status

date

slug

summary

category

icon

password

😀

In Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, there is the Yokosuka Museum of Art, an art museum that coexists in harmony with nature. It is not only a place for displaying works of art, but also a reflection of architect Riken Yamamoto's design philosophy.

In 2007, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city, this art museum became a landmark of Yokosuka City with its unique architectural form and its harmonious integration with the environment.

💡

“If I could, I would like to make the natural and urban environments at least a little bit better than they were before through the buildings I design and build, even if it's just a little bit.”

-— Rihei Yamamoto

Riken Yamamoto, winner of the 2024 Pritzker Prize, has been acclaimed for his unique vision and outstanding contribution to the integration of architecture and the natural environment. Riken Yamamoto is particularly well known in China, where his masterpieces include Jianwai SOHO in Beijing, which he designed and completed 20 years ago, and the Tianjin Library, which was completed 12 years ago.

In the design of the Yokosuka Museum of Art, he proposed the concept of “flowing courtyard space,” which aims to break down the traditionally closed architectural space and create a new kind of public space where people can move freely between art and nature.

Riken Yamamoto's design philosophy emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of architecture and the environment. In the design of the Yokosuka Museum of Art, he skillfully buried most of the building volume underground to minimize the impact on the surrounding natural landscape. This design not only demonstrates respect for the natural environment, but also addresses the environmental concerns of a waterfront site, such as erosion of exhibits by sea breezes.

The architectural characteristics of the Yokosuka Museum of Art are reflected in its integration with the natural landscape, the double skin structure, and the skillful layout of the interior spaces.

Integration with nature The Museum of Art is surrounded by mountains to the north, facing the sea, and has the typical valley topography of Yokosuka. Riken Yamamoto utilized the topography to integrate the building with the natural landscape, creating a peaceful and harmonious artistic atmosphere.

Double skin structure The Museum of Fine Arts adopts a double skin composed of roof and walls, with glass panels on the outside and iron panels on the inside. This design not only protects the exhibits from the erosion of the sea breeze, but also controls the sunlight through the circular holes of different sizes, creating an open and varied interior space.

Layout of the interior space

The interior spaces are planned as nested boxes, with open public facilities such as restaurants and studios at the edges; and sensitive exhibition and collection facilities at the center. This layout meets the functional needs and enhances the mobility and interactivity of the space.

The Yokosuka Museum of Art demonstrates its unique depth and breadth in art presentation. The museum regularly organizes a variety of exhibitions covering a wide range of forms, from traditional painting and sculpture to modern installation art and new media art. These exhibitions not only showcase the individual styles of the artists, but also reflect trends in contemporary art.

In addition to traditional art forms, the Yokosuka Museum of Art places special emphasis on the presentation of new media art, utilizing modern technological tools such as digital projection and sound art to provide an immersive viewing experience. These new media artworks are often combined with the museum's spatial design to create a unique interactive experience.

💡

The Yokosuka Museum of Art is a masterpiece of Riken Yamamoto's design philosophy, which not only displays works of art, but also provides a spatial experience in harmony with nature.

japan guides