rocker lange architects: fashion museum omotesando

fashion museum omotesando by rocker lange architects all images courtesy rocker lange architects

international firm rocker lange architects proposal for a fashion museum in tokyo’s renowned omotesando district is not like conventional tower configurations. the design utilizes the concept of an expandable and differentiable ribbon as a continuous organizational strategy. the ribbon that resembles a trefoil knot ensures that the narrative of the fashion history is told in an uninterrupted way. consisting of a ramp it provides easy access for handicapped people by maintaining a slope of 6%. the entire height of the tower provides a user interface for a continuous experience in revealing the history of the fashion industry chronologically from the 1900’s to the 2000’s.

since the circulatory principal is the main concept behind the design, it is used to organize and articulate the facade system. the outer membrane is a direct interpretation and transformation of the interior movement inside the tower space. the design seeks to achieve a unique formal character and spatial configuration by implementing cross scalar variation. by maintaining a uniform and holistic building the proposalensures a strong iconic identity for the building and the entire urban area of omotesando.

side and front view

the facade material is made of white enamelled metal panels with bronzed tinted glass, elements that provide sufficient protection to the exhibited fashion artefacts. the facade with its porous nature offers constant and continuous 360 degree views over the city of tokyo. in order to provide maximum interaction with the ramping system the structure opens up an extended urban space underneath the building. the enclosed space of the museum is lifted up by 4.00 m to provide alternative relations with the urban surrounding.

entrance into the museum