This book is a focused monograph that delves into architect Jun Aoki’s unique interpretation of the museum as both concept and architectural form. Over the course of his career, Aoki has continually explored how art interacts with space, challenging conventional notions of what a museum should be. By rethinking spatial boundaries and the role of the viewer, he proposes new possibilities for how art can be presented, experienced, and integrated into our everyday environments.
At the heart of this volume are four central projects: the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, the Aomori Museum of Art, his retirement exhibition at Tokyo University of the Arts, and the recently completed Rabbit Hole. These works serve as milestones in Aoki’s architectural journey and exemplify his evolving ideas about exhibition design, spatial fluidity, and the museum’s cultural role. Each project is presented through detailed photographs, drawings, and commentary that offer insight into Aoki’s design process and conceptual thinking.
In addition to these primary case studies, the book features around twenty art-related projects—including galleries, exhibition spaces, and competition proposals—that further illustrate the breadth and depth of Aoki’s engagement with art architecture. Through these varied works, the reader is invited to consider how architecture can serve not only as a container for art, but as an active participant in the artistic experience itself.
The volume is further enriched by three essays that provide critical perspectives on Aoki’s work. These texts examine his approach to space-making and his redefinition of the museum as a flexible, living institution—one that reflects shifting cultural contexts and embraces ambiguity as a design principle.
By combining visual documentation with thoughtful analysis, this book offers a compelling narrative of Jun Aoki’s contributions to museum architecture. It stands as a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of architecture, art, and spatial theory.