in northern japan, atelier tsuyoshi tane architects (ATTA) has transformed a pair of brick warehouses that originally produced saké. in 2017, ATTA won a competition to convert these industrial structures into the hirosaki museum of contemporary art (hirosaki MOCA). as the site was located in the country’s largest apple growing region, the building gradually began producing cider instead of saké. this production continued for a few decades, until the structures were gradually converted into warehouses.

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art
all images © daici ano | video © ATTA

 

 

led by tsuyoshi tane, ATTA’s concept for the transformation was ‘history needs a future’ — an approach that incorporated the historical value of the building and the memory of its original function. the conversion retains as much of the original structure as possible, with the old plaster removed to reveal the historic red bricks. meanwhile, new brickwork has been added where necessary. this is particularly apparent at the entrance to hirosaki MOCA.

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art

 

 

a new titanium roof has also been added to the historic structures, subtly referencing cider’s golden coloration. meanwhile, the canopy’s appearance reproduces the diagonal weave roofing technique widely used in the construction of cider factories. the museum comprises five exhibition spaces, including a gallery with a 15-meter ceiling, a civic gallery, and three studios. a library, a shop, and a museum café are also included as part of the new institution.

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art

 

 

the hirosaki museum of contemporary art was inaugurated on july 11, 2020 with its inaugural exhibition titled ‘thank you memory: from cidre to contemporary art’. the program will focus on the site’s ‘memory’, which has been resurrected from the past. ‘our hope is that this exhibition will enable the memory of this site to be preserved and passed on to the future, and that the activation of the ‘memory device’ of the museum and the gathering of artists and residents from far and wide will serve to generate memories for future generations,’ says hirosaki MOCA.

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art
site plan | image © ATTA

atelier tsuyoshi tane converts brick warehouses into hirosaki museum of contemporary art
section | image © ATTA

 

 

project info:

 

name: hirosaki museum of contemporary art

location: hirosaki, japan
date: 2017-2020
area: museum: 3,079 sqm / café: 497 sqm
architect: atelier tsuyoshi tane architects (ATTA)
concept: tsuyoshi tane
project manager: haruki nakayama
project architects: valentino pagani, daisuke maeda, aoi akimoto
project team: yosuke tsukamoto, ryosuke yago, kuniyuki okuyama, matteo broggini, shota yamamoto, matteo lunanova, hiroki sato