fashion museum omotesando by donald shekall 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.

donald shek: fashion museum omotesando

donald shek: fashion museum omotesando

donald shek: fashion museum omotesando

donald shek: fashion museum omotesando

donald shek: fashion museum omotesando floor plans