ryue nishizawa: hiroshi senju museum karuizawa

'hiroshi senju museum karuizawa' by ryue nishizawa in nagano, japan
all images courtesy hiroshi senju seum karuizawa
image © daici ano, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa


japanese architect ryue nishizawa has completed 'hiroshi senju museum karuizawa', a single-storey
cultural facility on a lush site in karuizawa, japan. a collaborative effort with internationally recognized
japanese artist hiroshi senju, the museum seeks to harmoniously link the exhibited art with
the surrounding landscape within a naturally illuminated space.



interior view of gallery space
image © daici ano, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa


housing a wide collection of the artist's work from 1978 to the present day, the museum utilizes
the natural elements of the site as a backdrop to the pieces displayed. the floor gently follows
the pre-existing contours of the land, subtly swelling and dipping throughout the gallery.
a series of organically-shaped light wells puncture through the roof, injecting pockets of greenery
within the interior. deeps eaves, silver screens, and UV-cut glass panels control the amount of daylight
intake while allowing in the qualities of the forest.

sitting between the parking lot and the museum is the 'color leaf garden' which acts as a natural
buffer zone for visitors. extensively planted with 60,000 plants of 150 varieties, the changing palette
of the leaves will have an active role in the atmosphere of the gallery within.



image © daici ano, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



curvilinear light well
image © daici ano, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



image © daici ano, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



seating area
image © daici ano, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



image © daici ano, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



image © daici ano, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



'waterfall' by hiroshi senju, 1996
image © hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



'falling color' by hiroshi senju, 2005
image © hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



aerial view of physical model
image © office of ryue nishizawa, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



elevation view
image © office of ryue nishizawa, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



site plan
image © office of ryue nishizawa, hiroshi senju museum karuizawa



project info:

design and supervision: office of ryue nishizawa
construction: shimizu corporation and sasazawa construction
building structure: steel frame construction, reinforced concrete

total floor area: 1818.42 m2
exhibition space: 1490.51 m2
museum office: 128.16 m2
gallery: 199.75 m2