Toyota City Museum

A museum that is continually created by everyone, where a diverse range of people, primarily local residents, can gather and interact

  • Cultural Spaces
  • The 7.8m-tall glass cube "Toyoda Mono Monogatari" tells the story of "Toyoda" through an overwhelming collection of objects (materials) across genres.

  • Four thematic exhibits are arranged around the glass cube. Each side of the cube displays materials related to the respective theme.*

    Four thematic exhibits are arranged around the glass cube. Each side of the cube displays materials related to the respective theme.*

  • [Toyoda Memory Travel] Anime and live-action characters talk about their memories of objects from different eras. The museum also collects and exhibits the "memories" of visitors.*

    [Toyoda Memory Travel] Anime and live-action characters talk about their memories of objects from different eras. The museum also collects and exhibits the "memories" of visitors.*

  • A huge diorama that condenses the distinctive geographical features of Toyota City. With Video in the background, you can explore how people live in harmony with nature in the diverse environments of the city (photo above*)

    A huge diorama that condenses the distinctive geographical features of Toyota City. With Video in the background, you can explore how people live in harmony with nature in the diverse environments of the city (photo above*)

  • On top of the diorama, there is a scene diorama that focuses on the daily life of the people who live there. Within the scene, you can also see materials from the permanent exhibition room (photo above*).

    On top of the diorama, there is a scene diorama that focuses on the daily life of the people who live there. Within the scene, you can also see materials from the permanent exhibition room (photo above*).

  • [Everyone's Lab] A place where citizens can actively use the museum. After attending a lecture, citizens can view the materials stored on the upper floors and conduct their own research.*

    [Everyone's Lab] A place where citizens can actively use the museum. After attending a lecture, citizens can view the materials stored on the upper floors and conduct their own research.*

  • [Kids' Space] Items that embody the charms of "Toyoda," such as play equipment that resembles gohei mochi and charcoal-grilled sweetfish, are on display. Children can enjoy and become familiar with the museum from an early age.*

    [Kids' Space] Items that embody the charms of "Toyoda," such as play equipment that resembles gohei mochi and charcoal-grilled sweetfish, are on display. Children can enjoy and become familiar with the museum from an early age.*

  • [Ennichi Space] An open space where citizens and companies can hold exhibitions and workshops like at a festival. A symbolic space of the museum where citizens can gather and engage in activities.

    [Ennichi Space] An open space where citizens and companies can hold exhibitions and workshops like at a festival. A symbolic space of the museum where citizens can gather and engage in activities.

  • Various types of display fixtures are available as a system to support exhibition creation by curators and citizens. The design, along with the architectural space, utilizes materials produced in the city (photo below*).

    Various types of display fixtures are available as a system to support exhibition creation by curators and citizens. The design, along with the architectural space, utilizes materials produced in the city (photo below*).

  • Toyota City Museum
  • Four thematic exhibits are arranged around the glass cube. Each side of the cube displays materials related to the respective theme.*
  • [Toyoda Memory Travel] Anime and live-action characters talk about their memories of objects from different eras. The museum also collects and exhibits the "memories" of visitors.*
  • A huge diorama that condenses the distinctive geographical features of Toyota City. With Video in the background, you can explore how people live in harmony with nature in the diverse environments of the city (photo above*)
  • On top of the diorama, there is a scene diorama that focuses on the daily life of the people who live there. Within the scene, you can also see materials from the permanent exhibition room (photo above*).
  • [Everyone's Lab] A place where citizens can actively use the museum. After attending a lecture, citizens can view the materials stored on the upper floors and conduct their own research.*
  • [Kids' Space] Items that embody the charms of "Toyoda," such as play equipment that resembles gohei mochi and charcoal-grilled sweetfish, are on display. Children can enjoy and become familiar with the museum from an early age.*
  • [Ennichi Space] An open space where citizens and companies can hold exhibitions and workshops like at a festival. A symbolic space of the museum where citizens can gather and engage in activities.
  • Various types of display fixtures are available as a system to support exhibition creation by curators and citizens. The design, along with the architectural space, utilizes materials produced in the city (photo below*).

Photo: PIPS inc., Ltd., Hiroyuki Hirai *

About the Project

Overview The concept is "A museum that everyone can continue to create together." The aim is for a diverse range of people, mainly local residents, to gather, interact, and "inherit the history of the region, explore its charm, and create a future with the people of Toyota City" through various activities. The permanent exhibition has the theme of "Toyota's nature and people's activities," and is a place where visitors can encounter, interact, and explore "Toyota" through exhibits of "objects" related to "Toyota" and the "memories" of the people.
Issues/Themes To consider suitable exhibition methods to introduce Toyota City 's history, culture, industry, nature, and people's lives. Also, to present how an open museum should be, where citizens can actively participate, including projects that utilize local resources.
Space Solution/Realization From the planning and design stages, we created a system for citizen participation through workshops with citizens. For the exhibition, we presented a method of telling the story of "Toyoda" through a wide variety of materials across genres, and an "ennichi space" where citizens and businesses could hold exhibitions like a festival day. We created a symbolic space where architecture and exhibitions were integrated. We also prepared a variety of exhibition fixtures to support the exhibition creation by curators and citizens.
Design for Environment Universal Design: After repeated trials with people with disabilities, we created the display fixtures and explanatory panels. We also provided explanations in multiple languages, based on the idea of multicultural coexistence.
Cultural property Preservation Planning: We coordinated with Architectural Design to design storage fixtures to accommodate materials from a wide range of fields, as well as the flow of materials and layout of the storage facility.

Basic Information

Client Toyota City
Services Provided Display Planning, Design, Layout, Production, Construction, Video Production
Our Team Exhibition Direction: Tsuyoshi Kato
Display Planning: Noriaki Tanikawa, Eikai Nishikawa
Design, Layout: Akira Nishimoto, Takashi Fukuda, Saeko Morikita, Ryo Takai, Asuka Sato
Models, Molding: Hiroshi Nakai, Yoshiteru Hasezawa
Video content design: Kenya Hirata, Yuka Yoshigami
Storage Layout: TANSEI Research Institute Co., Ltd. Hiroyuki Ichinose, Misato Uematsu, Aoshima Aya, Yuki Takase
Production, Construction: Shogo Suzuki, Taizo Fukuda
Project Management: Masayuki Mashimo, Wataru Hirashima
Awards "KUKAN DESIGN AWARD 2024" Cultural Exchange Space Bronze Award
Selected for the Industry Award at the 43rd Display Industry Award (2024)
Selected for the 58th Japan Sign Design Award
Location Aichi prefecture
Open April 2024
Website https://hakubutsukan.city.toyota.aichi.jp
Tag
KATO Tsuyoshi

Exhibition Direction

KATO Tsuyoshi

After working in promotion and commercial facility design, he is now mainly involved in Design Direction for culture and communication spaces. He values "the story behind it," "surprises in hospitality," and "the tactile sensation of the space," and strives to create facilities that "make the lives of those who visit just a little bit richer."

Main Achievements

*The shared information and details of the project is accurate as of the date they were posted. There may have been unannounced changes at a later date.