An origami-inspired masterpiece of folded steel and subterranean elegance that hides to stand out.
Design museum in Tokyo.
Featured in Tadao Ando's definitive monograph, Tadao Ando: Complete Works 1975–Today.
Visitor Guide
Don't just stay outside; the descending entrance hall leads to spacious galleries and a sunken court that are unimaginable from the surface.
The edge of Midtown Garden, where the sloping steel roof appears to hover over the lawn like a drawn breath.
Open 10:00–19:00. Closed Tuesdays. Admission: General ¥1,600. Located 5 min from Roppongi Station.
The 54-meter-long steel roof sheet required highly advanced Japanese technology to process and transport without deformation—a task engineers initially thought was crazy.
1-2 hours
Design & Structure
Ando translated Miyake’s abstract clothing philosophy into two steel plates floating in the landscape. The design was continually iterated with on-site staff through to completion.
Giant steel plates, exposed concrete, and the longest double-glazed glass sheet in Japan. Light and ventilation for submerged galleries are provided by the sunken court.
Burying the building maintains stable temperatures and protects exhibitions. The folded roofs resonate with the gently sloping topography both as roofs and as 'uplifts in the earth'.
More by Tadao Ando
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Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Piccadilly Gardens
Kaminoge Station
Clark Art Institute
Shikoku Mura
Onomichi City Museum of Art
Nearby in Akasaka
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed 21 21 Design Sight?+
21 21 Design Sight was designed by Tadao Ando and completed in 2007. It is located in Akasaka, Japan.
Where is 21 21 Design Sight located?+
21 21 Design Sight is located in Akasaka, Japan. Its coordinates are 35.6675°, 139.7303°.
When was 21 21 Design Sight built?+
21 21 Design Sight was completed in 2007. It was designed by Tadao Ando.
Can I visit 21 21 Design Sight?+
21 21 Design Sight is a real building in Akasaka that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.