Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture

Overview

The Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture, Imabari is a museum of contemporary architecture and design located on Ōmishima in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. It presents the work of Pritzker Prize–winning architect Toyo Ito and stands on a promontory of an island floating in the Seto Inland Sea. Made up of two buildings named the Steel Hut and the Silver Hut, the structures themselves—both designed by Toyo Ito—are among the highlights. For travelers interested in Japanese contemporary architecture, it is a rare place to take in both the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea and architecture at once.

Highlights

• ●A museum presenting the work of Pritzker Prize architect Toyo Ito
• ●The Steel Hut and Silver Hut, buildings designed by the architect himself
• ●An open setting on a promontory of Ōmishima in the Seto Inland Sea
• ●Exhibits and programs on contemporary architecture and regional development

History

The museum was founded in 2011 and opened to the public on July 30, 2011. It hosts exhibits and educational programs relating to the work of Toyo Ito, regional development, and other themes in Japanese contemporary architecture. The two small exhibition buildings, the Steel Hut and the Silver Hut, were both designed by Toyo Ito and built on a promontory of Ōmishima, an island in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea. It has grown as a place connecting the region with contemporary architecture.

Map

34.2139, 132.9504 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Cross to Ōmishima via the Shimanami Kaido
2. 2Admire the architecture of the Steel Hut and the Silver Hut
3. 3Explore the exhibits on Toyo Ito's work and contemporary architecture
4. 4End by enjoying the Seto Inland Sea view from the promontory

Did you know?

💡 The buildings consist of two contrasting structures, the Steel Hut and the Silver Hut, both designed by Toyo Ito. The way the architecture itself can be experienced as part of the display is a charm unique to this museum.

Nearby spots