The Kondo Museum is located in Kyoto, Japan and offers visitors traditional Japanese ceramics. The museum covers 89.35 square meters and was renovated in 2017 by the architects from Mamiya Shinichi Design Studio. The museum is located near the main gate of Kyoto's Kiyomizu Dera Temple. According to popular belief, the ancient city of Kyoto is divided into four parts and guarded by four mythological creatures.
This eastern region of Kyoto has long been under the rule of Seiryu, the azure dragon and guardian of the city's east. The region is known as a sacred place of pristine water. A traditional local craft known as Kiyomizu ceramics has developed in this area. The Kondo Museum was originally designed to commemorate Yuzo Kondo, the famous master of Japanese ceramics.
The Mamiya Shinichi Design Studio team was commissioned to renovate the museum. With the rebirth of the museum, museum guests have the pleasure of seeing some of Yozo Kondo's fascinating works of art in the field of white and blue ceramics. It also features Japanese masterpieces by two of his sons (Yutaka Kondo and Jun Kondo) and one of his grandsons (Takahiro Kondo), who are also internationally famous for their art. Kondo Museum of Japanese Ceramics is divided into four areas.
On the street side, right next to the entrance area, Yozo's large ceramic plate is displayed, characterized by the distinctive Japanese blue and white style. Although this work of art was once rarely open to the public, today everyone can admire it. The exhibition area includes the works of four members of the Kondo family, who faithfully continue and refine his style, called Kondo Sometsuke.
Yuzos OriginalWorkshopfrom 1924 stores valuable materials. A collection of sake cups he made for pleasure are also part of the exhibition. Through the work of Mamiya Shinichi Design Studio, the Kondo Museum has gained another room, located in the inner area of the museum. The new area is called Ryusui and functions as a bar where visitors have the opportunity to enjoy sake and better understand the famous Japanese ceramics.
Different shades of gray anddim lightingcharacterize the interior and shape the entire ambience. They effectively showcase the materials used in the design of walls, ceilings and floors - bamboo, stone, plaster and traditional Japanese paper.
