'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos, Public building and library complex in Gifu, Japan
'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos is a public library and cultural center that brings together books, exhibition galleries, and meeting spaces across multiple levels. Large fabric globes hang from the ceiling throughout the interior, creating a sculptural environment that shapes how visitors move through the open floors.
Architect Toyo Ito designed the building, which was constructed in 2013 and opened to the public in 2015 as a new cultural hub for the city. Its opening represented a shift in how the city approached community spaces by combining design innovation with public access.
The building functions as a gathering place where people come together for exhibitions, workshops, and community events that bring neighbors into contact. It serves as a space for people to share interests and learn from one another through shared activities and conversations.
The building is straightforward to navigate thanks to clear signage marking the different areas and open layout that reveals most spaces at once. Visitors can easily move between floors and quickly locate the library, exhibition areas, or event rooms they are looking for.
The hanging globes are not merely decorative but contain woven patterns that help guide visitors through the open floors as they explore. This subtle blend of art and wayfinding transforms the interior into an experience where function and form work together.
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