Designed by renowned architect Toyo Ito, the ‘Minna No Mori’ Gifu Media Cosmos has opened its doors to the public in central Japan. Internally, the scheme is defined by large funnels in the roof plane that define various reading, resting and study zones. These curved globes are made from three-dimensional polyester shades that allow light to filter down into the spaces below.
At the heart of the first floor, a glazed enclosure houses book shelves and a gallery, while on the upper storey, visitors encounter an open-plan library organised through a series of spiraling wooden units. The arrangement of furniture is also placed in circular formations, further emphasising the helical nature of the plan.
Designed to integrate sustainable technologies, the roof canopy is a composition of latticed wood, with interstitial openings allowing natural light to flood the library below. the domes assist in this, not only providing visual interest with their shape, but also by ensuring that sunlight refracts at particular angles to disperse solar gain more evenly throughout the building.
Instinct Furniture BLOG, mostly about cool libraries, furniture and design – keeping you abreast of our world. (Source: Designboom. All images by by Kai Nakamura).
