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Takanabe Ninomaru Taigh-tasgaidh Eachdraidheil by Tomohiro Kaji

Takanabe Ninomaru Taigh-tasgaidh Eachdraidheil by Tomohiro Kaji is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Duais Òir A' Design Award in Dealbhadh Dualchas Cultarail agus Gnìomhachas a' Chultair Competition Category.


ÒrDualchas Cultarail· 2025

Takanabe Ninomaru Taigh-tasgaidh Eachdraidheil

by Tomohiro Kaji

Client: Takanabe Town Hall

Duais Òir A' Design Award Winner in Dualchas Cultarail Category

Colors

The Design

About Takanabe Ninomaru Taigh-tasgaidh Eachdraidheil

Chaidh Taigh-tasgaidh Eachdraidheil Takanabe, a chaidh a stèidheachadh ann an 1986, ath-mhacnamh a dhèanamh air gus dèiligeadh ri com-pàirteachadh luchd-tadhail a' crìonadh air sgàth taisbeanaidhean sean-fhasanta. Ghabh an ath-dhealbhachadh ri JIN, feallsanachd a' chaoimhneis, ga thionndadh gu bhith na ionad cultarail is foghlaim a' brosnachadh uaill chatharra. Tro innse sgeulachdan lèirsinneach agus dealbhadh spàsail, thug an t-ùrachadh a-steach curadòireachd chuspaireach, taisbeanaidhean bogaidh, agus pannalan acrylic sreathach a' samhlachadh leantainneachd eachdraidheil. Air ath-ainmeachadh mar Thaigh-tasgaidh Eachdraidh NINOMARU, tha e a-nis na àite eadar-ghnìomhach far a bheil dualchas, foghlam agus coimhearsnachd a' ceangal.

The Recognition

About the Duais Òir A' Design Award

Tha Takanabe Ninomaru Taigh-tasgaidh Eachdraidheil air Duais Òir A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh anabarrach urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean den chiad ìre, mìorbhaileach agus sònraichte. Tha buannaichean Òir nan cruthachaidhean anabarrach ùr-ghnàthach, làn lèirsinn agus drùidhteach a nochdas gèinidh, gliocas agus comas an luchd-dealbhaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi Takanabe Ninomaru Taigh-tasgaidh Eachdraidheil na innleachd a gheibh moladh mòr, a stèidhicheas gluasadan agus mòr-chuimhneachain a bheir luach nach fhacas riamh roimhe. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Òir A' Design Award na phròiseact sònraichte, urramach a bhrosnaicheas crìochan ealain, saidheans, dealbhaidh agus teicneolais gu mòr. Bidh Takanabe Ninomaru Taigh-tasgaidh Eachdraidheil a' cruthachadh faireachdainnean làidir miann, a' dùsgadh dealas, a' brosnachadh cruthachalachd agus a' glacadh sinn.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
This design centers on the concept of a history of benevolence, creating a space that visually and intuitively conveys the region's heritage through storytelling. Located on the historic site of Takanabe Castle, the museum was renamed and redesigned as a cultural hub to rediscover the town's uniqueness and foster civic pride. From curation and visual identity to signage and narrative design, the space was fully reimagined to serve as an educational and inspiring environment.
Dimensions & Packaging
Scale:
Site area: 7,763 meter square
Building area: 904.43 meter square
1st floor area: 461.58 meter square
2nd floor area: 442.85 meter square
Tags
historical museum, cultural heritage, exhibition design, storytelling, visual identity, graphic design, spatial design, civic engagement, SDGs
Production Technology
This exhibition uses graphic and spatial design to make history visually engaging. The entrance features a concept display with a tagline, while the first exhibition room includes zoning signs with symbolic designs. The second exhibition presents Takanabe Domain's history, the Meirindo school, and the 7th lord Akizuki Taneshige's SDGs-related policies. At the center, acrylic panels display successive lords and their policies, with a red gradient symbolizing historical continuity.
Design Challenge
The biggest challenge of this project was creating an engaging exhibition with limited historical materials and budget. From a historical and social perspective, extensive document research and discussions with experts were conducted to highlight the region's uniqueness, shaping the exhibition narrative around the culture of human development. As large-scale renovations were not feasible, we utilized graphic and spatial design to create a visually compelling and immersive exhibition.
Research
This study aimed to revitalize a historical museum through design and narrative. The objective was to enhance visitor engagement, promote cultural heritage preservation, and foster civic pride. The methodology included comparative studies of museums and interviews with historians. We introduced content curation and visual solutions. By highlighting the region's unique history of human development, we proposed a narrative-driven exhibition design, enhancing historical understanding.
Inspiration
This project was inspired by the need to revitalize a declining local region by restoring its historical museum. Established in 1986 under the Akizuki domain, the museum's outdated exhibits led to a decline in visitor engagement. With the town's rich history in education and culture, revitalizing its significance was crucial. The goal was to transform the museum into a cultural hub where people can learn, connect, and take pride in their heritage and traditions.
Project Duration
The project began in autumn 2023 in Miyazaki, Japana and finished in December 2024.
Operation Flow
This exhibition utilizes visual storytelling to help visitors intuitively understand the region's history. The layout is designed for a sequential experience, guiding visitors through zoned spaces categorized by theme and era, ensuring a natural flow of information. The design creates an immersive experience where history is learned through narratives, while layered acrylic panels symbolize temporal connections, resulting in a visually engaging and easily comprehensible exhibition.
Image Credits
Illustrations: Tomohiro Kaji
Image #1-#5: Photographer Kai Kanno (Nacasa & Partners)

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