ARCHITECT

RYUE NISHIZAWA

PROJECT

TESHIMA ART MUSEUM 2010

Uniting the creative visions of artist Rei Naito and architect Ryue Nishizawa, Teshima Art Museum stands on a hill on the island of Teshima overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. The museum, which resembles a water droplet at the moment of landing, is located in the corner of a rice terrace that was restored in collaboration with local residents.

Structurally, the building consists of a concrete shell, devoid of pillars, coving a space about 40 by 60 meters and with a maximum height of 4.3 meters. Two oval openings in the shell allow wind, sounds, and light of the world outside into this organic space where nature and architecture intimately interconnect. In the interior space, water continuously springs from the ground in a day long motion. This setting, in which nature, art and architecture come together with such limitless harmony, conjures an infinite array of impressions with the passage of seasons and the flow of time.


The droplet-shaped architecture of Teshima Art Museum was designed by architect Ryue Nishizawa.

The structure measures about 40 meters by 60 meters, with a maximum height of 4.5 meters. It is a low concrete-shell structure without pillars or columns to support it. The surrounding nature directly ows through the two openings into its organic and horizontal interior space. All the plants used here are indigenous weeds growing on Teshima, so that the museum becomes part of the environment of the Karato area. Walking along the promenade leading to the museum, one can enjoy the beautiful view and learn about the history of the area.

source: Fukutake Foundation