In these five museums and cultural centres, materiality takes centre stage. More than just aesthetic, these design choices forge deep connections to local heritage in a profoundly sensory way, heightening our awareness of the textures, origins and cultural significance of materials from clay tiles to wooden beams. Discover how below.

Cover and Above: Masaki Hamada

Multisensory architecture makes way for immersive storytelling

In Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, the AEAJ Green Terrace fosters mental and physical wellbeing through the power of aromatherapy, mimicking the natural tranquillity of a forest. Nestled neatly inside a glass box, the three-story structure is made predominantly from locally sourced cedar and cypress wood. Designed to house The Aroma Environment Association of Japan, the project’s programme includes several spaces for olfactory education including the Aroma Laboratory, with 300 global scents, and the Aroma Corridor, showcasing 43 plant species used in essential oils. At the heart of the project is a series of slender beams elegantly intertwined to form a sophisticated lattice that artfully mimics the ambience of a forest while reinterpreting traditional Japanese wood joinery techniques. Its result is a web of wood that gracefully spans interior spaces, creating an intentionally organic atmosphere while strategically allowing natural light to filter through. The building functions like a massive diffuser, gradually releasing the essential oils used throughout the facility through its porous wooden structure.

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Photo: Pedro Pegenaute

Tactile materials humanize institutional settings

Strategically located along the Huangpu River amidst a skyline of skyscrapers, the New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center emerges as a cultural landmark in Shanghai’s rapidly developing Qiantan area. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a dramatic display of five stacked precast terrazzo arches in the lobby concourse, creating an immediate sense of grandeur and rhythmic movement. The escalator space, crafted entirely from glass blocks, juxtaposes the interior design of the theatre, enveloped in warm oak that extends seamlessly from the stage into the audience areas, providing an aesthetic and acoustic function in the grand theatre. The centre reimagines the cultural landscape of Shanghai by prioritizing tactile materials and archetypal forms. By using a soothing palette of mostly earthy tones, complemented by crisp lines and natural textures, the theatre hall breaks away from the usual ostentation found in entertainment venues.

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Photo: Taiki Fukao

Materiality fosters sensory-driven museum experiences

The newly opened Audeum Museum in Seoul, designed by Kengo Kuma, fosters a connection with nature through a sound-centred exhibition. Located in the vibrant Gangnam district, the forest-inspired design immerses the visitor in the sensory journey before entering the museum, with a play of shadow and light created by the vertical arrays of aluminium louvres. These pipes, arranged randomly, filter natural light. The building’s lobby is designed to create a gradual transition from the roughness of the aluminium to a warmer atmosphere with a distinctive wood finish. The acoustically engineered spaces feature materials that not only enhance sound but involve all senses. A fabric flower-like structure in one of the galleries highlights the material's capacity to transform both light and sound, while the Alaska-sourced cypress panels installed in the lobby awaken visitors’ sight and scent. Kengo Kuma’s design engages the visitor in a strong spatial narrative through a rich material palette that evokes the senses and complements the sonic journey.

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Photo: Lars Petter Pettersen

Integrating indigenous materials anchors architecture in local history and tradition

Sámi heritage runs through the core of a new cultural and educational hub in Kautokeino, Norway. A collaboration between Snøhetta, 70°N Arkitektur and artist Joar Nango, Čoarvemátta unites three disparate entities under one roof – a high school, national theatre and reindeer herding school. Sitting low within the landscape, the sloping roof on two sides minimizes the building’s spatial impact, allowing it to blend seamlessly from afar. Curved lines and organic materiality aid this subtle dialogue with the surrounding landscape. Inside, the colour scheme morphs from warm reds to cool blues, traditionally used colours in Sámi culture. Resourcefulness and sustainability are central to the project, honouring the Sámi philosophy of using every part of an animal. This can be seen in the building's efficient use of local materials, including masi quartzite, ore pine, and repurposed slate. Stones from the local plateau have been incorporated as sitting stones, reinforcing the building’s connection to nature. By integrating local Sámi building traditions and materials, the design serves as a living testament to Sámi craftsmanship while cultivating a sense of contemporary identity within the present community.

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Photo: Eiichi Kano

Materials spatialize heritage in a tangible, engaging format

Located in Yixing, a city in China famous for its clayware, Kengo Kuma and Associates’ new museum communicates the site’s rich material history to tourists and local artisans. As part of a broader project to redevelop the area, the new museum aims to put on display the city’s rich material heritage. The roof and its adjoining walls are clad in overlapping clay tiles, producing a uniform, shelled volume that climbs over the site. Circular pools of water outline the points where the structure meets the ground, reflecting the deep red and burgundy of the clay cladding. The clay shingles were developed collaboratively with local artisans and they all differ slightly in colour, adding a visual depth to the façade. This cladding serves as a public display of the area’s heritage, and, built collaboratively with local artisans, it allows the building to connect not only with visitors but also with those who carry the legacy of the area’s 1,000-year pottery-making history. The underside of the building is clad in timber, providing a warmth that also reflects the craft of pottery-making.

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