The Albert Kahn Art Museum is situated on the southern edge of Bois de Boulogne, a vast park located on the west side of Paris, France.
The museum was founded by Albert Kahn (1840-1940), a merchant and philanthropist who documented his global travels through 72,000 color photographs and 183,000 meters of film. These extensive archives form the core of the museum’s collection.
Kahn had a particular fascination with Japan and other regions in Asia. His photographs provide a valuable historical and ethnographic record, vividly capturing life in Asia during that era.
One of Kahn’s dreams was to recreate gardens representing the five continents, with particular emphasis on the Japanese garden, which was designed and constructed with expertise from Japan. This garden remains a highlight worth visiting.
The museum’s exhibition space is designed as a linear extension that follows the path winding through the garden. The architect incorporated aluminum and wooden screens between the pathway and the external environment. This design continues the garden’s flowing and twisting forms in both horizontal and vertical directions, carefully managing the relationship between the interior and exterior.
Through this integration of landscape and architecture, Albert Kahn’s vision of blending gardens with exhibition spaces is fully realized.
The building’s enclosure near the city side is primarily constructed from aluminum, while the garden-facing side predominantly features wood. These materials sometimes blend gradually, creating a gradient transition.
This design approach acts as a biological skin for the building, allowing it to interact with and adapt gently to its different surrounding environments.
Project Information
Architect: Kengo Kuma Architecture Urban Design Firm
Area: 4,980 m²
Project Year: 2022
Photographers: Michel Denancé, Think Utopia, Olivier Ravoire
Design Team: Sebastien Yeou, Lopez Arahuetes Diego*, Jordi Vinals, Elise Fauquembergue, Sarah Marquert*, Marion Geinzer*, Pascal Ferreira*, Carla Beaujard*, Charles Detilleux*, Mathieu Faliu*
Project Construction: CASTELALU, EHRMANN, NORMEN, Balas, Spie, PLATOUEST
Project Collaboration: AIA Ingénierie
Equipment: Setec Batiment
Landscape Design: Michel Desvigne Paysagiste
Lighting Design: ARTEC
Location: Boulogne-Billancourt, France
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