A matter of light.

Sayamaike Historical Museum is located on the edge of Samayaike pond, finding once again a building surrounded by water. It consists on a large rectangular box and another smaller rectangular box flanked by a water plaza. Those are connected by circular portions that enrich the spatial sequence into the interior of the complex. 

 

The aim of the building construction is to create a museum to house the relics of the sight discovered during previous excavations and to show the ancient Japanese techniques of water engineering. For all the former reasons, Tadao Ando introduces stagnant water surfaces as well as falling water cascades within the whole design strategy.  

 

The material chosen for the facades of the boxes is rough granite cut stone, which completely integrates the aesthetic appearance of the edifice within the surrounding landscape. From the access down a staircase to the lower level, the visitor find himself below the tranquil pools of water on the upper level that reflect the rectangular volumes, into a water plaza with cascading waterfalls on both sides. 

 

Moving along one of the two corridors which enclosure at one of the sides is composed in this case by a fluid water curtain, a trascendental experience of sound and feelings is encountered. Moreover, the recessed walkway is animated not only by the sound of water but by light as it hit this falling cascade. The sunlight undergoes a change in its mean of propagation (from air to water and then again air) which makes it alter its initial direction and therefore the previous shadow projection. The long path that serves as communication between two areas of the building is filled with  brightness as the rays pass through the water layer. 

 

“I don't believe architecture has to speak too much. It should remain silent and let nature in the guise of sunlight and wind.”- Tadao Ando