ARCHI-DEPOT

Tokyo Design Center inc. (TDC) Review

The ARCHI-DEPOT Museum, established in Terada Warehouse, is the first regular museum in Japan with a collection of modern architecture models. The space of 450 square meters with a ceiling height of 5.2 meters has over 100 shelves dedicated to the exposition of architectural models. The underlying concept is “Displaying the Warehouse Space,” where one can freely weave through the exhibit cases and learn about the designer’s profile. By scanning the QR code, one can supplement the display item with one’s tablet or smartphone and access construction photos and drawings.
Lately, due to the expansion of CG and three-dimensional printers, architectural models are less frequently created, especially by overseas architects. However, in Japan many architects still make architectural models. One can understand that through the beauty of these models (not only from a display viewpoint, but also as a study model that captures the transitions of the production process), Japanese architects strive to achieve a more humanistic spatial presentation. They utilize architectural models as a design tool rooted in sensory thinking.