The concept behind this project is to design an art museum that functions like a bustling metropolis, where diverse people and activities come together. This museum serves as an “urban space,” welcoming anyone who wishes to visit, learn, relax, enjoy art, find inspiration, and share knowledge freely.
Nakanoshima in Osaka is a sandbar situated between the Dojima and Tosabori Rivers, historically thriving as a hub for trade and commerce since the Middle Ages. The project site is a vital connector between the east and west sides of Nakanoshima, making pedestrian flow and clear directional signage crucial. To address this, the architect designed multiple entrances welcoming visitors from all directions, rather than relying on a single main facade to dictate the route.
To mitigate risks from potential river flooding, artwork storage areas are located on the third floor and above. The first and second floors serve as public spaces for exhibitions and community use. This five-story steel structure incorporates a base-isolated main museum and an earthquake-resistant parking structure, designed with expansion joints to enhance safety.
Architects have enhanced the project’s urban integration by connecting the outdoor spaces on the first and second floors with the surrounding landscape. To create a seamless transition between interior and exterior, the design eliminates height differences between the building and its site. The architect used clear geometric forms and a broad square facade on the lower floors to give the museum a floating presence within the urban environment.
The museum’s second floor connects directly to nearby public facilities via corridors. A pedestrian walkway, already in use, is planned for future extension westward, enhancing the area’s vitality and accessibility. The architects aim to address the core principles of contemporary architectural design by integrating complex elements into simple, elegant forms.
Project Drawings
△ General layout plan
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Fifth floor plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Sectional perspective
Project Information
Architect: Katsuhiko Endo Architect and Associates
Area: Approximately 1,861 square meters
Project Year: 2021
Photographers: Hiroshi Ueda, Nao Takahashi
Manufacturers: AGC Glass Kenzai Co. Ltd., Oshirox Co. Ltd., Sanwa Tajima Corporation, TAKAHASHI CURTAIN WALL CORPORATION
Lead Architect: Katsuhiko Endo
Architectural Firm: Katsuhiko Endo Architectural Research Institute
Structural Engineer: Jun Sato Structural Engineers Co. Ltd
Environmental Engineer: Tohata Architects & Engineers
Landscape Architect: Studio Terra Inc
Location: Osaka, Japan
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