The museums built in the 19th century reflect their stature as temples of knowledge, and their architecture reflects this perception in neo-classical and neo-gothic designs. In the twentieth century, museum architects began to strike out beyond those early temple and cathedral models (Geibelhausen 41-47). Among the museum buildings built in the latter half of the twentieth century, the Edo-Tokyo Museum stands out as a striking example of modern museum architecture. Located in Tokyo's metropolitan district of Ryōgoku, the museum's ultra-modern architectural design fits right in with the surrounding buildings. Edo-Tokyo Museum is built uniquely elevated above the ground, the landmark feature of the museum's design. The museum's website explains the design is an interpretation of a traditional elevated warehouse in Japan. Visitors access the museum through a tunnel-like escalator running underneath of the building. But the Museum's modern facade is only the casing which holds the treasures within. The contemporary architecture and radical design of the building's exterior is similar to many modern art museums, but the building's interior design and exhibit content is contrastingly traditional.
The people who visit the Edo-Tokyo Museum find themselves submerged in the last 500 years of Tokyo's history. Edo-Tokyo Museum was established in 1993, its purpose being "to preserve the historical heritage of Edo-Tokyo"(Edo-Tokyo Museum Website). The museum's exhibits move visitors through the nation's Shogunal and Imperial past, and in to Japan's tr
ansition to the modern era. The institution serves not only as a museum with collection and exhibitions, but also as a cultural center for public education. Because of this aspect of their mission, the museum boasts an impressive library that contains over 140,000 volumes on Japanese history and culture, most of which are available to the public (Edo-Tokyo Museum Website). The Edo-Tokyo Museum's mission as a cultural center expands on role of museums in society, and is indicative of the changing nature of museums in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Works Cited
Geibelhausen, Michaela. The Architecture IS the Museum, from Marstine, Janet, ed. New Museum Theory and Practice: An Introduction. (Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2006), 41-60
The Edo-Tokyo Museum. Edo-Tokyo Museum, http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/index.html
The people who visit the Edo-Tokyo Museum find themselves submerged in the last 500 years of Tokyo's history. Edo-Tokyo Museum was established in 1993, its purpose being "to preserve the historical heritage of Edo-Tokyo"(Edo-Tokyo Museum Website). The museum's exhibits move visitors through the nation's Shogunal and Imperial past, and in to Japan's tr
ansition to the modern era. The institution serves not only as a museum with collection and exhibitions, but also as a cultural center for public education. Because of this aspect of their mission, the museum boasts an impressive library that contains over 140,000 volumes on Japanese history and culture, most of which are available to the public (Edo-Tokyo Museum Website). The Edo-Tokyo Museum's mission as a cultural center expands on role of museums in society, and is indicative of the changing nature of museums in the 20th and 21st centuries.Works Cited
Geibelhausen, Michaela. The Architecture IS the Museum, from Marstine, Janet, ed. New Museum Theory and Practice: An Introduction. (Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2006), 41-60
The Edo-Tokyo Museum. Edo-Tokyo Museum, http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/index.html
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