Idemitsu Museum of Arts

Tokyo, Japan

Photo © Katsuhiko Murata

Photo © Yoshio Shiratori

Photo © Katsuhiko Murata

Photo © Yoshio Shiratori

Interior Designers: H2O Design Associates

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Year: 2007

Opened in 1966 as a museum open to the public, the Idemitsu Museum of Arts has a long and respected history in Japan. It houses the art collection of Sazo Idemitsu, founder of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. Refurbishment of the museum was carried out in three phases. The first phase saw the renovation of the elevator hall, the second phase the entrance, reception area and museum shop, and the third phase the lobby area and exhibition room for ceramic fragments. The refurbishment was based on the theme of "Japanese architectural DNA". Care was taken to incorporate uniquely Japanese spatial qualities and to achieve a sense of harmony with the existing premises designed by Yoshiro Taniguchi. The art display wall in the elevator hall was finished with rammed earth sourced from the Usui pass in central Japan, while natural materials such as earth, stones and wood were used as a base for the other walls in the building. As a prologue to viewing the historical artifacts and artworks on display in the museum, these spaces helped to create a keen sense of expectation for the visitor.