ryuji nakamura: beam

‘beam’ by ryuji nakamura & associates at the tokyo opera city art gallery in tokyo, japan
all images courtesy ryuji nakamura & associates

japanese architects ryuji nakamura & associates has sent us images of his most recent design for the exhibition
space of ‘feel and think: a new era of tokyo fashion’, a show highlighting ten young emerging designers
based in tokyo, japan. currently on display until 25 december 2011 at the tokyo opera city art gallery,
the design utilizes a floating steel framework placed at the viewer’s eye level to create
the illusion of individual rooms without the presence of full partition walls. 

view from above

completely supported by the pre-existing walls of the exhibition room, the beams are finished in
the same white paint to read as an extension of the overall space. the placement of the frame creates
three distinct areas within the vertical volume: under the beam, through the beam, and over the beam.
visitors are made conscious of the different elements which are often overlooked.

beams placed at eye level

devoid of bounding partitions, circulation of the exhibition room is liberated to a free and open form.
the design encourages individual visitors to determine their own route by simply passing under a beam.

physical model

plan view of physical model

project info:

area: 886.14 m2
structure: steel frame construction
design: ryuji nakamura, shun suzuki, ran tanaka
structural design: ohno japan / hirofumi ohno