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Yusuhara Wooden
Bridge Museum
Red cedar bridge links traditional and
contemporary expressions of Asian architecture
Kengo Kuma and Associates
with les from Neil Carder, Kristel Derkowski and Jay Pabila
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The Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum
is a covered gallery and pedestrian bridge
that connects a hotel and a spa, which had
previously been separated by a cliff and a
road. The museum functions not only as a
skywalk between the two facilities, but also as
accommodations, work and exhibition rooms
that cater to artist-in-residence programs.
In order to achieve the 154-ft. span, an innovative system of interlocking
beams was developed. Long beams rest above progressively shorter ones,
and the entire structure tapers to a point at a slender central column.
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The intention of the architects was that the building
exhibit a harmonious relationship with its forested
mountain environment. The use of large-scale steel or
concrete elements was avoided in favor of small mem-
bers of glue-laminated local cedar. In order to achieve
its 154-ft. span, an innovative system of interlocking
beams was developed by reinterpreting the traditional
Japanese cantilever. Long beams rest above progres-
sively shorter ones, and the entire structure tapers to a
point at a central steel-cored wooden column. The two
skeletal metal towers supporting the bridge on either
end merge visually with their wooded surroundings,
evoking the impression that the massive structure is
balancing on one slender wooden post. The interior of
the gallery mimics the exterior in its materiality and
poetic exposed structure, forming a space framed by
cedar members and a panoramic view of the landscape.
The bridge evokes the traditional construction method
of to-kyo (square framing) employed in Japan and
China, which was devised to support the load from the
eaves. By repeating this method persistently to the scale
of a bridge, it presents a completely new expression of
architecture while keeping its authentic Asian appearance.
The project successfully bridges various issues for
the town revitalization of the local culture, urban
design, technique for frame construction, application
of natural materials into traditional design with one
architectural work.
ARCHI TECT
Kengo Kuma and Associates
STRUCTURE
Katsuo Nakata & Associates
UTI LI TI ES, EQUI PMENT
Sigma Facility Design
CONSTRUCTI ON
Shimanto Sogo Construction
ELECTRI CAL
Showa Denki Kogyo
PHOTOGRAPHY
Takumi Ota Photography
The bridge functions as a gallery and skywalk between a hotel and spa, but also as accommodations and
work/exhibition rooms for artist-in-residence programs.
NORTH-SOUTH SECTION
1. gallery
2. framing pier-1
3. framing pier-2
4. road
5. bridge
6. central pillar
7. approach to existing spa
8. framing pier-3 (EV shaft)
1
2
3
4
5
6 7
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