Hamada Childrens Museum of Art (inside)

Here in Shimane we have more museums and galleries per capita than any other Prefecture bar one. This may partially be due to the continued haemorrhaging of the population to the big cities, Shimane's population is decreasing faster than anywhere else, but it is most probably due to the massive influx of construction money from Tokyo. Shimane continues to vote LDP.

One person who has benefited from this influx of construction money is local-born architect Shin Takamatsu, the designer of the Hamada Childrens Museum of Art.

Architecture, modern or otherwise, lends itself easily to photography that leans towards the anstract, as does mine.

In the late afternoon and evening the sun creates fantastic patterns of light and shadow.

While all the big cities in Japan have their fair share of interesting modern architecture, its fun to explore the rural areas of Japan to find such things.

Matsue National Government Building

Opened in 2004, this building houses a variety of National govedrnment offices that previously had been scattered across the town. The Immigration Office is here, so I and other foreigners who live in Shimane visit it often.

It was designed by Shin Takamatsu who also designed the Kunibiki Messe building across the road.

The south facing surface of the building has glass louvers to cut down on the airconditioning bills and the roof features a rainfall catchment system.

Other than that it is a fairly ordinary office block.

The Atrium at Kunibiki Messe

The Kunibiki Messe is a large convention center and exhibition hall in Matsue, Shimane.

Designed by Shimane-born architect Shin Takamatsu.

The central atrium features the forms common to much of Takamatsu's work... cones, cylinders, spheres, etc.

Running through the space is an elevated walkway that connect the 4th and 5th floors.

Up to the 5th floor

Down to the 4th floor.

Kunibiki Messe

The Kunibiki Messe is a large convention and conference center up in Matsue.

Kunibiki means "land pulling", and refers to an ancient Izumo legend. Messe is the German word for "Fair".

It opened in 1992 and was designed by Shin Takamatsu.

We have a lot of buildings by Takamatsu in Shimane as he is a local man, from Nima.

It doesnt look like much from a distance, but close up one can discern something interesting inside......

Inside nagasaki ferry terminal

The inverted, truncated, cone section of the Nagasaki ferry terminal is a large open space lit by strong, natural, light from the roof.

Designed by Shimane-born architect Shin Takamatsu, it reminds me a lot of another of his building, the Public Spa at Tamatsukuri Onsen (which I haven't posted yet)

Nagasaki Ferry Terminal

As we walked towards the new Nagasaki Ferry terminal to catch the tour boat to Battleship island, I had a sneaking suspicion it was a Shin Takamatsu design.

It had all the hallmarks of his work,.... metal, concrete, glass, simple platonic solids, often with spaces cut out...., and a certain whimsy I appreciate in his work.

Sure enough, I was right, it was designed by him and built in 1995.

I have photos of two other ferry terminals designed by him, at Shichirui, and Sakaiminato,.... I will post them soon....

The best part of this structure was the inside, and photos of that I will post tomorrow.

Nima Sand Museum (inside)

The centrepiece of Nima's sand museum is the largest sandtimer/hourglass in the world, 6 metres in height amd 1 metre wide, it contains more than 1 ton of sand that takes a year to flow through the narrow gap.

Every New Years Eve the timer is lowered from its position high up in the main glass pyramid of the museum and invited guests turn it 180 degrees to begin a new year.

Other than the sandtimer there is not actually a lot to see at the museum...... there are a few artworks using sand, and a collection of sands from around Japan, but not much else.

The outside of the museum, designed by local architect Shin Takamatsu, is more interesting.

See the outside

Nima Sand Museum (outside)

Driving along Route 9 as it passes through the town of Nima one is struck by a strange site;- 6 glass and steel pyramids rising out of the hillside. This is the Nima Sand Museum.

Nearby is Kotogahama beach, known for its "singing sand".... actually it just squeaks when you walk on it, but that was the inspiration for the museum. The building was designed by Shin Takamatsu, who was born in Nima. The tallest pyramid was designed to be tall enough to be seen from his mother's gravesite.

The main pyramid houses the world's largest sand timer, and other than that there is little to see inside the museum.

However, the museum was featured in a hit TV drama, and that has provided the impetus for many to visit it.

Milky Way Hall (inside)

Going inside Milky Way Hall I was surprised to find an open central area filled with a shallow pool. Luckily a shaft of light was coming in through the buildings superstructure.

Designed by local architect Shin Takamatsu, Milky Way Hall is a 700-seat uaditorium and conference centre in Gotsu.

See outside Milky Way Hall

Milky Way Hall (outside)

With its rectilinear, minimal design and windowless walls clad in blue tile, Gotsu's Milky Way Hall looks like a warehouse or factory, but is in fact a 700 seat auditoriun and conference centre that hosts concerts and other cultural events.

Opened in 1995, and designed by Shin Takamatsu, it is called Milky Way Hall because there are small lights set in the wall and at night the building displays constellations on its exterior.

Takamatsu is a professor at Kyoto University and was born locally at nearby Niima. He has designed many buildings in his home prefecture including Hamada Childrens Museum, and Nima Sand Museum.

See inside Milky Way Hall