The new museum cannot boast of a permanent exhibition; it does not even have its own collection of works of art. But, nevertheless, it is called the “museum of the 21st century”. This title, which is claimed by many contemporary cultural institutions, the National Arts Center plans to confirm by the fact that it will be able to constantly hold large-scale temporary exhibitions of Japanese and foreign art (the total area of its exhibition space is 14,000 square meters, the largest in Japan) and also actively support young artists.
The building was erected in Tokyo's trendy Roppongi quarter, which already houses the new Mori Art Museum (located on the upper floors of a skyscraper designed by the KPF bureau) and the complex of the renovated Suntory Museum. But the National Center for the Arts is just as attractive to art lovers. Its appearance is defined by a 21-meter wall of glass plates, curving in a wave along the facade of the museum. The architect’s decision is not only caused by allusions to the waves in the Tokyo harbor: this glass screen saves energy spent on air conditioning - it lets in daylight, but retains more than 90% of solar heat and ultraviolet radiation.
At the same time, the project of the museum makes it possible to quickly and easily export and transport materials from various exhibitions, and this can be done simultaneously. Despite the fact that "traveling" exhibitions will become, at least in the first years, the main filling of the halls of the National Center, such a technical find was necessary.
Kisho Kurokawa sees his building as an international cultural center: in his opinion, almost any type of works of art, even the newest and most unusual, can be exhibited there. It will also open an extensive library of specialized literature, and in the future it is planned to create a database of all exhibits stored in art museums around the world (although so far this is hampered by international copyright law).
