the highly-anticipated mt. fuji world heritage center designed by shigeru ban has opened in japan — a landmark that celebrates the mountain’s relatively recent status as a UNESCO site and its symbolic value in the country. selected ahead of 238 competing proposals, the scheme is articulated around an inversely shaped latticed cone that references the shape of the dormant volcano, a site that has provided a spiritual basis for the japanese people since ancient times.
designboom was invited to visit the mt. fuji world heritage center ahead of its opening, and recently spoke to shigeru ban in his tokyo office to discuss the details of the project.
image © designboom
the mt. fuji world heritage center intends to provide future generations with a dedicated space to understand and observe the importance of the mountain, renowned for its symmetry and serenity. the 4,300 square meter complex features an observation hall which offers spectacular panoramic views of the landscape. visitors can climb a 193 meter spiral slope leading to the viewing tower, which shigeru ban has designed to mimic the feeling of ascending the mountain itself.
image © designboom
‘besides me, everyone [who submitted competition proposals] designed a roof resembling the fuji mountain — but I thought it’s impossible to compete with the fuji mountain in front. so I did it the other way around,’ commented shigeru ban during our interview. ‘inside, there is this kind of experience where you climb up the fuji mountain. along a slope, we have a very beautiful light projection of the mountain. while you’re climbing up, you can see the beautiful images of the different heights of the fuji mountain when you climb it. at the end of the slope, on the top floor, there is a penthouse with a sort of ‘picture window’ that frames the real fuji mountain.’
image © designboom
image © designboom
image © designboom
image © designboom
seeing the museum shop and cafe from the third floor
image © designboom
third floor
image © designboom
movie theater
image © designboom
movie theater detail
image © designboom
seeing the ground floor from the third floor
image © designboom
exhibition space with slope
image © designboom
view of mount fuji from the observation hall
image © designboom
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
image courtesy shigeru ban architects
architecture in japan (518 articles)
sho sasaki/INTERMEDIA completes japanese nursing home with triangular wooden canopy
arbol design connects two family houses in tokyo with bauhaus-inspired garage
'bespoke' hotel opens its doors in shinjuku, tokyo, with unique identity by artless inc.
shigeru ban (99 articles)
architecture news
translucent conference center by selgascano appears as a luminous form
#architecture
on the outskirts of a medieval town in western spain, a giant, boulder-shaped volume emerges out of the undulating terrain.
on the outskirts of a medieval town in western spain, a giant, boulder-shaped volume emerges out of the undulating terrain.
the 'bunker' project by martin marro is an oil tank you can live in
#architecture
in his latest work, the architect has taken an old gas oil tank and converted it into a capsule for living in argentina.
in his latest work, the architect has taken an old gas oil tank and converted it into a capsule for living in argentina.
bezalel academy targets 2022 opening for its SANAA-designed campus
#architecture
to be known as the 'jack, joseph and morton mandel campus', the project is located in jerusalem's russian compound on a hill overlooking the old city.
to be known as the 'jack, joseph and morton mandel campus', the project is located in jerusalem's russian compound on a hill overlooking the old city.
this school in perthes-en-gâtinais comprises multiple gabled wooden volumes
#architecture
'school la rouche' by tracks architectes is located in a green pedestrian area, in the heart of the historic town of perthes-en-gâtinais, in the south of region »
'school la rouche' by tracks architectes is located in a green pedestrian area, in the heart of the historic town of perthes-en-gâtinais, in the south of region seine and marne, france.
There’s only one word for this – beautiful!
Absolutely stunning and inviting!