Japanese American National Museum
Los Angeles, California
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T
he Japanese American National Museum is the only museum in the
United States dedicated to sharing the experience of Americans of
Japanese ancestry through images, documents and oral histories.
The new Japanese American National Museum pavilion is designed
to emphasize maximum flexibility and adaptability to allow the museum to
grow in an incremental and harmonious fashion. The architecture is bold and
contemporary, creating a dialogue between the new museum and the beautifully
restored former Buddhist temple that shares the museum site.
A part of the museum complex, the temple’s ceremonial entrance was rebuilt by
artisans who restored oak floors, reglazed and painted walls, stenciled original
designs on ceiling panels, and replicated delicate lanterns in what was once the
sanctuary. In the new museum, time-honored materials such as stone and wood are
Rosso Nero Lithocrete® alternating
with Ascona bands naturally
diminishes radial cast-in-place
stairs.
juxtaposed with perforated stainless steel and high-performance glazing. In awardwinning fashion, the stone, steel and glass structure accented by Lithocrete®,
bridges East and West esthetic traditions.
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1/2/2008 8:22:52 AM