Asian Arts Museum
France · Europe
About
The Asian Art Museum of Nice (in French: Musée départemental des arts asiatiques de Nice) is a museum located in Nice, France, dedicated to the arts and cultures of Asia. It was established in 1998 and is operated by the Alpes-Maritimes departmental council.
It located near Parc Phœnix. It was inaugurated on October 16, 1998. Following a donation that fell through, the museum built its collections ex nihilo (from scratch).
The museum was designed by the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange: "In my mind, this museum is a jewel of snow shining in the azure of the Mediterranean. It is a swan floating on a peaceful lake amidst lush vegetation ..."
Adjacent to a floral park, the building sits above an artificial lake and gives the illusion of floating on the water.
The architectural aesthetic of the museum is based on the contrast between solid forms clad in marble, giving an impression of robustness, and transparent walls that bring lightness. The setback of the walls at the water’s edge gives the structure the impression of defying the laws of gravity.
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.