Aquametropolis Osaka’s new art museum!
Nakanoshima Museum of Art and its bold architecture

The cherry blossoms in Osaka are in bloom and the weather is absolutely stunning. A riverside walk around Nakanoshima reveals this wild a crazy structure–the brand new Nakanoshima Museum of Art!

A Giant Black Cube
Designed by architect Katsuhiko Endо̄, this building has been the talk of the town due to its bold shape and strong colors. Apparently, the architect didn’t want the building to get lost in the shadows of the city. That–it does not!

So what is it made of? When you look closely, you can tell the wall surfaces are rough, almost like asphalt. These are made from precast concrete panels and they’re not glossy. So the dark facade will actually absorb light.

Maintaining a deep, dark, black facade is difficult, especially had the designers chosen paint. This material was chosen to keep the exterior looking bold and black for as long as possible.

The “Ship’s Cat” sculpture by Kenji Yanobe, sits proudly in front of the musuem in a bright orange diving suit. It represents cats that sailed the world’s oceans in great ships during the Age of Discovery. The cat serves as a sort of protector for the museum, looking out like the figurehead of a ship’s bow. Another sculpture by Kenji Yanobe, “Giant Torayan”, an oversized metallic figurine, is on display on the 4th floor of the museum as well.

Spacious interior and natural lighting
Just behind the SHIP’S CAT statue, you see a row of windows. Inside is the 2nd floor of the museum and an very sterile-looking metallic interior. Natural light pours through the cleverly placed windows and well-designed passagways. The building was designed on the concept of “passages” from the French word meaning corridor, or walkway, or literally just passage. Each of the 5 floors have impressive passageways and escalators zigzagging through the open space. It’s a fun place to shoot complicated geometric compositions in your photos.

Also, have a look at the N shaped benches made specially for the museum. They’re still new, so when you sit down you can smell the fresh aroma of cut wood.

Danish interior design by HAY, Japan’s second location
When I visited the museum, there was no special exhibit scheduled. But there was one corner that was particularly interesting. HAY OSAKA showcased simple interior products designed for function. Everything was so elegantly made and the prices were surprisingly reasonable. Everything looked fun, colorful, and stylish. Apparently the tote bags with the company logo are very popular with the younger crowd.

I hope you enjoyed this peek inside the Nakanoshima Museum of Art. Sad to say, I couldn’t show off any of the special exhibit artwork, but the ongoing Amedeo Modigliani exhibit and the upcoming Tarō Okamoto exhibit in July will be well worth another visit. And when you’re here, be sure to check out some of the other interesting architecture in the neighborhood!