Osaka Maritime Museum 2000

This building topped by a 70 meter in diameter dome in Osaka’s bayside Nanko area, is a museum dedicated to the city’s maritime history. Visitors access the exhibition hall from the entrance building on the shore via a 60 meter long underwater tunnel, and when seen from the shore the building seems to float right on the water. Upon setting foot inside the dome, visitors first see a huge wooden ship and an open, four level, atrium-style exhibit space before their eyes. The dome shining with reflected sunlight during the day becomes increasingly transparent as the day shortens until the building’s inner and outer light balance completely reverses. At night, the illuminated interior creates a futuristic scene, as if a spacecraft has landed on the sea.