fashion museum omotesando by donald shek
all images courtesy donald shek

continuing our coverage of entries for the international architecture competition hosted
by arquitectum, here is the proposal by architect donald shek.

japan has always been a landmark for fashion that extends itself around the world,
inspiring people, artists and designers alike. thus their design was to celebrate this
and to create a structure which not just created this monumental landmark but something
that allowed the building to react to the surrounding context which changes and alters
like fashion, something which isn’t static but dynamic and something which initiated
intrigue and delight.  

the stacks of layers that create the facade scale up the entire building creating a semi
transparent skin; this skin allows both the outside to view the internal exhibitions as well
as allowing the internal events to animate the public realm.  the skin at the lower levels
around the street edge form canopies for passers-by and visitors; as well as forming habitable
spaces for the public to appropriate. the core is formed around the centre of the site allowing
full penetration of light through the skin into the building.  these lines of sedum and plantation
act as both a changing façade that alters throughout the seasons like fashion itself with its
altering colours and textures, but also as solar shading to filter direct sunlight.  as these trays
of flowers and grass flow around the building they reach the sky gardens, forming micro
climates and filtering the surrounding context.  the protrusions that form the runway and gardens
are to seamlessly flow from the main structural facade, piercing the skyline allowing the users
take advantage of the panoramic views of the city, and to allow the city to appreciate the events
that occur within the museum.  as the building grows over the years the colours and textures of
the museum slowly initiate growth throughout the rest of the city giving something back to
the people of tokyo in the future, thus creating another layer to the already rich fashion culture
that emanates from the city.












floor plans