MOSAIC TILE MUSEUM

MOSAIC TILE MUSEUM was planed by a famous architect, Fujimori Terunobu (藤森照信) who often use natural materials for his works. Why architecture used natural materials and a museum exhibiting mosaic tiles were combined? 

Mosaic tiles are still used, but, were mainly used for the surface of bathtubs and kitchen sinks until a few decades ago. And in a little old-fashioned buildings, mosaic tiles were often used for the finishings. 

When we happen to see mosaic tile walls at an old-fashioned building, we feel some kind of nostalgic feelings. However, basic materials of these items were changed and mosaic tiles dropped out of use, because they may need long construction period and time consuming. 

These mosaic tiles and natural materials have a good chemistry. So, the orderer would choose this architect to realize their sentiment in this museum. And it was a good choice, we think.    


What is a mosaic tile?

These are small size tiles below 50 square centimeters. Using them, various patterns of design, so, often used for decorations of buildings. 

We suppose a few visitors are interested in mosaic tiles, but many are attracted by the appearance of this building. It may be an image of clay producing area, however, a hill-like building in a center of a city is quite innovative. 

At first, we misunderstand it has an oval ground plan, but it has a quite normal rectangle plan. And it has 4 floors above the ground, and frames are made of reinforced concrete. Its front wall and back side are covered by mud-plaster. And, central area is covered by a roof made of alloy-coated steel sheets from the highest point to the each side ground level. 

The trick is wide entrance vacant area which is dug into the center and the periphery is comparatively pilled by soil. So, the front area is a shallow mortal-shape hall. 

This front garden causes visual effect, so, we misunderstand it is oval ground plan and the center looks expanded. However, it's an optical illusion. Even though we understand the trick, still we are trapped in the architect's trick.      

All floors are used for exhibition rooms except the first floor. First, going up to the fourth floor, and we appreciate exhibitions downward like the style of the Guggenheim Museum in New York. 

The stairs are also intentional. They are long stairs from the first floor to the forth, and the space is dim. 
Maybe it is an image of clay producing area or wide manufacturing plants, however, it makes us feel trapped. Moreover, each exhibition rooms don't have windows, because the long sides are covered by mud-plaster and narrow sides are by a roof. Inside is being lightened by artificial lighting, but we feel still stuffy. We don't know if it's from the interior planning, but we also feel the height of the ceiling is low. Room looks like a closed storage room. So, there would be a wide stairwell, we think. 

Its facade is excellent. On the contrary, we can't agree on the inside a hundred percent. One more thing, we want to mention a photo which its facade projects a shadow of an electricity pole. This photo speaks a feeling of wrongness of this building eloquently. 

Massage in the HP.

This town was a producing center of mosaic tiles, but town's main industry is changed now. However, town's people have good memories of them. This museum planned to memorize and stock the historical documents and actual things. 

Mosaic tiles are used in every building, especially ordinary buildings. So, if the building is demolished, usually the mosaic tile structures are destroyed. Many town's people gathered to collect these mosaic tiles. In the museum, these collected items (over 10000) are stocked and some of them are exhibited.