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Chichu Art Museum by Tadao Ando: Art

museum in the Earth
5 MI N S R E AD
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The Chichu Art Museum, which literally means “art museum in the earth” is a unique modern
art museum located on the art island of Noshima in Japan. The museum, home to over five
distinctive art galleries was designed by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando. It was construc-
ted in 2004 as a site rethinking the relationship between nature and the people, which is now a
major tourist attraction.  
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Chichu Art Museum ©avauntmagazine.com/chichu-art-museum/

 Chichu Art Museum ©www.artstation.com/artwork/ONGle

The museum, built underground to avoid disrupting the natural beautiful view of the Seto
Inland sea. Despite the positioning of the building, the museum is designed in such a manner
that it facilitates the distinctive use of natural light for the illumination of the artworks that
change the appearance and the milieu of the space during the different viewing times through-
out the day and along the seasons of the year. The museum designed by Tadao Ando itself is
a work of art.

Style and concept

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 Chichu Art Museum ©setdeco.tumblr.com

The brutalist-style approach was taken by Tadao Ando for the Chichu Art Museum. Usage of
concrete was done to create clean lines and built-in decorations. The simple approach to the
details such as the empty areas of the museum has been considered in terms of the experi-
ence of the person moving through space. 

Strong forms and unique materials are used underground. This passionate attempt to create a
space where the visitors experience the work purely despite being underground where they
are completely cut off from the outside world, making their perceptions sensitive, concentrating
solely on the artwork, is a bold concept.

Plan and section

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 Chichu Art Museum ©visuallexicon.wordpress.com

Chichu Art Museum ©visuallexicon.wordpress.com

Tadao Ando designed the floor plan, formed of galleries formed around two courtyards, one
equilateral triangle, and a square plan linked by open-air passageways. It closely resembles a
narrative structure that works on the micro as well as macro level. The structure was built us-
ing Tadao Ando’s signature materials. There are no exterior walls except the entrance. All the
structures are built beneath the hill with various sections exposing natural light. It is difficult to
anticipate the structure as under or overground.

The thoughtful planning eliminates the feeling of being underground or any sense of claustro-
phobia that can affect the experience of the space. Axes and directions do not exist
underground.

Material used and impact

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 Chichu Art Museum ©twitter.com/architectuul

The material used for the design of the Chichu art museum by Tadao Ando is reduced to the
minimum. The material solely used is concrete along with the other main materials steel,
glass, and wood. The walls are made up of smooth concrete. Despite concrete being a heavy
and solid material, these walls which are massive as well as unadorned create a sense of
weightlessness. 
The concrete used is vibrant, which is impressive as concrete is known to be raw and aggres-
sive material. The low gloss coating is provided to this concrete creating a radiant, airy effect,
which when connected to the blue sky eliminates the disturbance creating a state of pure zen.

The museum unifies architecture and the natural environment. The art, each of its significance
of how we perceive and interact with our surroundings. The space is ideal Tadao Ando design
as it takes into account eastern and western concepts, which result in the building of an institu-
tion that reverberates with its visitors, regardless of their backgrounds and cultures.

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 Chichu Art Museum © in.pinterest.com/pin/23643966772847489/

Entering the museum, the simplicity of walls and the mixture of natural and dark shadows
guide throughout the space. Between every gallery, there is an intermediary space consisting
of skylights, wall opening, and courtyards which bring the outside world inside. The courtyard
exposes the natural ground covered with grass and jagged rocks. The pathway is designed in
such a manner that it shifts the visitor’s attention to the natural elements. The cutouts in-
ground allow the flow of natural light exposing clean geometric shapes. 
Each artist has their space which is designed to enhance as well as harmonize the experience
of the artworks. Tadao Ando integrated architecture with nature, allowing the organic structure
to tune in with its natural surroundings.

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 Chichu Art Museum ©arthur.io/art/tadao-ando/chichu-art-museum?crtr=1

The light energy running through the diagonal and sharp edges of the concrete creates a
sense of motion and velocity. The concrete which stands still seemingly powerless is powerful
in its own ways. 

While walking through the concrete walls, the shadows and lighting transform the space to be-
ing exposed and mysterious at the same time. This obstruction is beneficial in a museum as it
shifts one’s senses of placement and shifts into a spatial experience. 
Chichu Art Museum ©zoomoncontemporaryart.com/2018/05/09/chichu-art-museum-

naoshima-island-japan/

Built almost entirely underground, the museum is a perfect balance contracting the qualities of
being both non-monumental but highly architectural at the same time. Usage of common and
mundane material for decades and still being relevant is a highly commendable act committed
by Tadao Ando, proving his work. 
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The Chichu Art museum will also be magical because of the consideration of nature in this
project. The level of consideration of nature is a remarkable accomplishment. The museum
when seen by a bird’s eye view looks like a graphic design poster that sits on uneven terrain.
+4
 ARCH I T E CTURE ART M U S EUM CHIC H U ART MUSE UM CONC E P T

EART H LIGH T E NERGY MATE R I A LS NATU R E SIMP L I C I T Y

STYL E TADA O A NDO UNDE R G R OUND

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Snehal Vyawahare

Snehal is an ardent architecture student who is always willing to try new things. She believes
in being diligent in her work and has introduced herself to a plethora of hobbies. She believes
that writing and architecture are art forms that have a beauty that extends beyond their face
value.
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3 Comments
 Chaitanya  REPLY

8 MO N T H S AGO

Love to see how the spaces blend with the context. Amazingly put forth. ❤️

Harshit  REPLY

8 MO N T H S AGO

Very detailed study good work 👏

Soumya  REPLY

8 MO N T H S AGO

Extremely knowledgeable and very well written article.

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