The Pola museum designed by Koichi Yasuda of Nikken Sekkei houses a private collection of impressionist paintings in the Hakone prefecture forest. HDA were appointed as design consultants to Asahi glass for the glass components of the museum: roadside glass shelters, the main circulation spine skylight and also a light wall running the length of the spine. The roadside shelters announce the theme of glass to the visitor through the use of cantilevering structural glass in an innovative application that exploits surface folds for cantilever action and stiffness. The spine wall uses low iron cast glass tiles to diffuse the daylight and nocturnal artificial light. The spine skylight, with it’s inclined face to the roof-top for views to the forest for the public as the enter the museum and descend on the main escalators. It is supported on structural glass fins and includes a translucent ‘ceiling’ that protects users from direct sun radiation while also providing a source of diffuse light.
POLA Museum , Hakone, Japon
HDA role : Facade and Structure Consultant