OLYMPIC MUSEUM JAPAN
Total Area: 9300 sqm
Concept-
Master Plan- The master plan illustrates the Olympic Museum as apart of a campus or park that includes a health facility and facilities for a National Para-Olympic (Special Olympic) Center. The Health Center is envisioned as a mixture of Eastern and Western Medicine. This center may develop into a hospital or need the support of an existing hospital. This facility could to be a part of a larger community with the idea of Sports/ Health as it's focus. It could revolve around the existing Olympic village in Nagano, but further research needs to be conducted in order to determine the feasibility.
The main organizing ideas for the master plan is the 5 rings from the Olympic symbol that are transformed into 5 spiral areas housing the main facilities which are divided into the following areas: museum, health facility, outdoor sports, indoor sports and the meeting center or amphitheater. These interconnecting spirals represent the various peoples of the world working together in a spirit of cooperation and communication. This proposal is intended to give a needed context for the museum.
Building Concept:
A building in a garden or grove forms the initial inspirational for this project. The grove that is surrounding and providing the garden like setting for the museum finds its source at Olympia. The original Olympic site was respected in ancient times as a holy and neutral place because of the sacred grove to Zeus, called the Altis, at Olympia. This initial grove has other symbolic values as seen in the idea of the Tree of Knowledge.
The Museum is viewed as carrying on the function of cultural education and evolution and has been divided into two basic divisions- memory viewing (exhibition) and memory searching (Education). Both of these are complementary and are joined in the lobby area. These represent two approaches to gain knowledge one through study and the other through inspiration. The main spaces are two voids that give a sense of relief, openness and space to contemplate the exhibitions. These voids are represented in the water garden as a floating illusion and inspirational center for the heart and the green garden as a grounded place serving for the study of the intellect. The main exhibition spaces are marked by the five following titles and will receive different kinds of natural day lighting to provide each with a unique inspiration.
Museum Exhibition -
Hall of Inspiration (the will to carry on)
Light-from without direct light beam
Hall of Dreams (dreams of the young athletes)
Light-fog, clouds, mist, Kyoto on a foggy day
Hall of Sacrifice/ Dedication (training)
Light-repetition of light
Hall of Glory/ competition (winners/ losers)
Light -fire within-collisions of light-tension
Hall of Silence (training of the mind)
Light -from within
The cafe finds itself in the garden overlooking a waterfall and the distant water garden. It has a commanding view of the facility. The work spaces also receive natural lighting from the green court yard.
Lighting Concept
The idea for the lighting provided the inspiration for the shape of the exhibition spaces. To allow natural daylight to indirectly illuminate the interior spaces through the use of curved ceilings was the basis for the roof design. The reflection of light off the initial perimeter curve bounces the light into the central reverse curved arch and provides an indirect method to light the exhibition spaces. The louvers block the undesirable rays and permit indirect illumination. As can be seen in the section below.