One thing which struck me about the design of museums in Tokyo is that often the buildings are just as unique and interesting as the exhibitions they contain. The National Art Center, Tokyo (国立新美術館) which opened in 2007 is no exception.
Designed by renowned architect Kisho Kurokawa (黒川 紀章), the museum’s facade is made up of a wall of gently undulating glass which reflects the surrounding park.
Behind the glass curtain wall, the building reveals its striking interior with concrete being the primary material on display.
Translucent gaps between the wood-slatted walls admit daylight into the voluminous galleries beyond.
Two enormous inverted concrete cones house an (extremely expensive) elevated restaurant and cafe.
The cones are lit by a circular halo of lights floating above.
There are plenty of seats dotted around where you can pause and enjoy the view looking in or out.
In the basement, there’s also a nice shop selling all sorts of beautifully designed Japanese products that would make great gifts.
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