Library Buildings around the World

phenomenon appears in the most ancient collection of Japanese myths, called the " Nihon Shoki ", and forms the basis of identity
and culture of the regio n. The design of this architecture attempts to express architecture as a phenomenological existence,
having a transient and eve r - changing appearance. The project aims at creating the environment which harmonizes the entire
site with surrounding area and improves its quality. Zelkova avenue, proposed and constructed as a main access to the facility,
is a symbolical green axis which outlines existing administrative zone and public recreation zone and enables various access to
the existing facilities. Certain " depth " is added to the whole area with green hill. Soundproof measures are taken against the
noise of adjoining Japan Railways. 95 m-length exter ior is composed of aluminum louver which reflects light subtly and stands
for a symbol of "Shiranuhi", a regional specific mirage rising on the surface of the sea . It is loved by local people as a landmark
which connects the antiquity and the future. Civic Plaza is a central core of the town, where buildings and env ironment are tota lly
developed so that cheerful and friendly environment open to the local public would be produced. South-oriented spacious lawn
plaza is constructed with promenade, artificial hill and forest. Multipurpose wooden stage and benches, open-air sculpture, basin,
and plants are settled. The aluminum brise-soleil, distinctive with its exterior, has effect ive sectional form and louver angle whose
performance is proved by the sunshine and daylight simulation. It controls strong daylight of the southern region to keep bright
and comfortable internal environment and energy saving. I nternal circulation of the barrier-free facility is realized in a series of
museum and library on a single flat floor. With mobile display walls which are operated easily by hands of a woman, the exhibition
room achieves a flexible space which allows various exhibition programs. The museum accommodates and exhibits the collect ion of
international artists from Shiranuhi district: Manabu Mabe, Hideo Noda et al. The library is open to the publics who enjoy reading
books in the open-shelf reference space . (Kitagawara)
Kisho Kurokawa Architect & Associates, Tokyo - Japan
http://www.kisho.co.jp
Libraries:
National Art Center, Tokyo – Japan 2000 – 2006
Building Area: 12,989sqm, Total Floor Area: 49,846sqm, S Structure ( partly SRC Structure), 2 basement floors + 6 floors
Awards:
2006 Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award
2008 Building Contractors Society Award
2008 Good Design Award
Japan's largest museum opens its doors: It’s been three decades since architect Kisho Kurokawa began designing what is now
Japan’s largest museum. With its striking facade of waves of glass, it encompasses an astounding 48,000m², making it the largest in
Japan. With no collection of its own, the National Art Center, Tokyo’s 12 exhibition rooms will be divided between shows organized
by nationally recognized art associations (ten rooms) and those used for curated exhibitions (two rooms). Alongside the state-of-theart
exhibition spaces are a restaurant and three cafés, a shop, an auditorium, three lecture rooms and a public art library containing
50,000 publications, largely art exhibition catalogues. Also, as part of their “outreach to the public,” the museum will offer
educational programs, lectures, gallery talks, internships and volunteer programs. For 2007, the 43 volunteers and ten graduatestudents
and museum-professional interns have already been selected. The building is a work of art in itself. The eye-catching design
by Kisho Kurokawa is best appreciated from the Roppongi Hills observatory. With a “mori no naka” (in the middle of the woods)
theme, the architect based the curved frontage on computer-rendered rhythmic images formed by mountains and the seashore.
Inside, the atrium blends two huge conical pods with natural wood flooring, andon-style lights that illuminate a bank of slatted walls,
and leafy views of Aoyama Cemetery. It’s a breathtaking welcome that befits the museum’s original concept as a hirakareta
bijutsukan—a museum opened to all. (http://worldarchitecturenews.com)
The National Art Center, Tokyo is located in the Roppongi district at the center of Tokyo. Roppongi is a downtown area known for
its numerous high-scale restaurants, boutiques, foreign offices in addition to being home to many ‘creators’. The building is made up
of seven enormous column-less display rooms, each 2000m², a library, an auditorium, a restaurant, a cafe and a museum shop. The
floor area of the National Art Center, Tokyo totals 45,000m², making it Japan’s largest museum. The National Art Center, Tokyo
will not be a space for archiving works of art, but is a space for exhibiting public open exhibits and travelling exhibits. The largest
exhibit in Japan, the Nitten Exhibition, supported by the Nitten Japan Fine Arts Group, displays a collection of over 12,000 works
annually, taking up an area of 10,000m², or more than 5 display ‘blocks.’ The jurying process for these types of exhibitions will begin
in the basement, where works will be brought in one by one at the loading area and only the pieces selected will be brought by
service elevator to the display blocks. Medium and small sized public exhibits will most often be held in one ‘block’ and will judged,
separated, held and displayed as they are unloaded from trucks in the basement in a functional rhythm. One display ‘block’ can,
moreover, be divided by partitions creating smaller spaces. This being the first super functional facility of its kind, it would be fair to
call it a gigantic display machine. Designed to rival the mechanical display space is the atrium facade, an enormous transparent
undulation. As the trees surrounding the museum grow, they will enclose the atrium in a forested public space. Also in the atrium
space are two inverted cones, the upper portion of both featuring the restaurant and cafe. The atrium connects with the Roppongi
downtown as one part of the street, perhaps to be an element of Roppongi’s famous nightlife . (Kisho Kurokawa)
Maki & Associates, Architecture and Planning, Tokyo – Japan
http://www.maki-and-associates.co.jp
Libraries:
Fukui Prefectural Library and Archives – Japan 2003
Structural SystemSteel Frame / Steel Reinforced Concrete / Reinforced ConcreteNumber of Floors4 Stories + 1 BasementSite
Area70,000m2, Building Area1 2,919m2, Total floor Area 18,436m2, Structural Engineer Hanawa Structural Engineers Mechanical /
Electrical Engineer Sogo Consultants.
The Fukui Prefectural Library and Archives is located in the rural suburbs of Fukui city, surrounded by lush rice fields and
adjacent to the Asuwa River, situated in a desired natural setting. To take complete advantage of this environment, this building
establishes a positive relationship with the surrounding setting. The open stack reading rooms are spread out across one floor, and
most of them are enclosed by glass curtain walls, creating a visual connection between the inside and outside. The majority of
reading areas are situated along the perimeter of this space, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery as they take breaks, viewing the
gardens nearby, or gazing far out to the distant mountains. (Maki)
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