Museum of the World ① Design: Opening Our Eyes to Everyday Life, Tokyo 21 21 Design Sight
Amidst the skyscrapers of Roppongi, Tokyo, a vast steel roof, lying low amidst the lush greenery of Midtown Garden, comes into view. More akin to a sculpture rising from the ground than a conventional building, this is ‘21_21 Design Sight’—the pride of Japanese design and a global hub for design.
“Not a museum for design, but a place to reflect on design”
21_21 Design Sight was established in 2007 following a proposal by the world-renowned fashion designer Issey Miyake. In 2003, he published an article in a daily newspaper entitled ‘Why is there no design museum in Japan?’, in which he emphasised the need for a hub for design culture.
Graphic designer Taku Sato and product designer Naoto Fukasawa, who shared his vision, joined as directors. They defined the space not as a ‘museum’ preserving artefacts of the past, but as a ‘Sight’ where design—an ongoing process—is researched and proposed. The name ‘21_21’ also embodies a determination to go beyond ‘20/20 Vision’—which in the West signifies perfect eyesight—and to possess the insight to look one step ahead.
Architect Tadao Ando: From ‘A Piece of Cloth’ to ‘A Sheet of Steel’
Tadao Ando, who was responsible for the architecture, drew inspiration from Issey Miyake’s design philosophy, ‘A Piece of Cloth’. Rather than tailoring clothes to fit the body, just as a single piece of cloth wraps around the body to create its form, he folded a massive steel plate to create the roof.
- An Underground Space: To preserve the landscape of the surrounding park, 80 per cent of the building is buried underground. However, natural light floods deep into the underground levels through Ando’s signature ‘Sunken Court’.
- The pinnacle of technology: the steel plates used for the roof were finished smoothly without any visible weld marks, utilising Japanese shipbuilding technology, whilst the front glass façade—featuring Japan’s longest double-glazed unit—blurs the boundary between interior and exterior.
Specialised Spaces and Curation: Dissecting Everyday Life
The exhibitions here never fail to surprise visitors with their original themes. Starting with the inaugural exhibition, ‘A-POC Making: Issey Miyake and Dai Fujiwara’, the museum relentlessly explores everyday materials such as chocolate, water, rice, and even concepts like ‘units’ and ‘folk art’ from a design perspective.
- Gallery 1 & 2: The main exhibition spaces, where the entire area is redesigned to suit each theme.
- Gallery 3: An extension added in 2017 to mark the gallery’s 10th anniversary, this space is primarily used for collaborations with companies and experimental pop-up exhibitions.
[Travel Info]
- Location: 9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo (within Tokyo Midtown Garden)
- Architect: Tadao Ando
- Opening hours: 10:00 – 19:00 (closed on Tuesdays)
- Nearby Attractions: Together with the National Art Centre, Tokyo and the Mori Art Museum, it forms the ‘Roppongi Art Triangle’, making it possible to enjoy an art tour on foot.
