Kyushu National Museum

The Kyushu National Museum is located on a hill behind an old famous shrine in Fukuoka, southern part of Japan. The architectural design concept was a futuristic museum in a historic place. The architects also intended to integrate the interior space with the surrounding sacred wood.

Visitors approach to the museum from a long underground passage, which Reiko Chikada designed into a “time tunnel”. Throughout its 60sec. ride, people enjoy LED patterns expressing the beautiful nature of Japan: four seasons and weather conditions (clouds, rain, and rainbow).

The lighting design also emphasizes the continuity of the interior space and the exterior. Continuous blue LED buried lights from the walkway pavements to the main lobby floor guide the visitors into the museum. The unique profile of the museum is emphasized by blue LED dots on the double-skin glass walls and the up-lights on the eaves without disturbing the sacred darkness of the old shrine at night.

Fukuoka has always been the most important area for cultural and diplomatic relations with Asian countries. The museum was planned not only for exhibitions but also for important diplomatic venues such as summit meetings. Considering this regional characteristic and the architectural design, Reiko Chikada Lighting Design created a luminous tower in the center of the three-storied entrance hall to turn it into a dynamic space for ceremonies and other special occasions. Visitors would feel a close connection with Asian countries in this space.

Reiko Chikada Lighting Design Inc.
Reiko Chikada

Kiyonori Kikutake, Kikutake Architects.
Kume Sekkei Co.,Ltd