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ARCHI-DEPOT, an architectural model museum opened on June 18, 2016, started a trial to make a balance of the display and the preservation of architectural models. This museum exceeds in the collection of characteristic architectural models and regarded as the first exhibition facility in Japan of its kind. The vast space on display shelves for preservation is around 400 square meters and the models made by outstanding Japanese artists and architectural practices are preserved and displayed. Not only the completed models, which are very similar models of already made architectures, but study models are also exhibited. Study models are sample models which were used to discuss the details in the process of planning of the architectures. You may take part in the process of planning by well-known architects like Kengo Kuma, Shigeru Ban or Torafu Architects.

You may of course admire the beauty of Japanese hand craft skills in those models themselves. Also you can acquire some information about architects and architectural products by accessing their internal websites by using QR codes displayed on the shelves. This allow you to learn more about the sites of crafts being made such as favored photos and blueprints of the models which never had accesses allowed before. It used to be a common practice to destroy architectural models once they were done as they were usually made with relatively non durable materials. Mr. Tokunaga, the head supervisor of the museum, said that he felt threatened about the fact that those architectural models which are very valuable learning materials were never archived before. Furthermore, with their high quality level of completed products, those Japanese architectural models have such high value as art production. This facility was made with appropriate functions for the aim of popularization and inheritance of Japanese architectural culture using the method of exhibition of preserved models in the museum.