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In the stairwell, visitors to the virtual walk-through can open and close the unique light-walls (made of a lattice covered with washi paper) to simulate different uses of the space. The actions of opening and closing the lattices and partitions are animated.

Virtual Walk-through
Virtual Walk-through
Virtual Walk-through
Virtual Walk-through
Virtual Walk-through
Virtual Walk-through

Visiting the Museum Online: Suntory Museum of Art Virtual Walk-through

The Suntory Museum of Art will launch its online Virtual Walk-through in September 2007.
This feature replicates the interior of the museum in 3D computer graphics based on the museum's architectural drawings, offering an online introduction to the buildings and exhibits of the Suntory Museum of Art. Clicking the Start button launches a tour that begins at the admission gate, ascends the elevator to the fourth floor, then descends the stairwell to view the exhibits on the third and lower floors in their actual order. To the side of the computer-graphic display, points of interest in the buildings and exhibits are displayed, offering the perfect way to learn about the museum and its content before a visit. The expertly designed computer graphics make the online tour fun and entertaining. For example, the mouse can be used to change the angle of view or rotate the view around any given point. The museum plans to enhance this website over the coming months, to attract as many new visitors as possible. For example, the museum will create an online walk-through of the Members' Salon, a facility open only to members of the Suntory Museum Members' Club. Discount coupons will also be available for download.

The virtual walk-through was created using Appareo, Kokuyo's support service for digital museum content creation. Appareo converts architectural drawings into 3D computer graphics for online publication, creates virtual museum tours, creates digital catalogs of high-resolution images, and much more. Because the purpose of the Suntory Museum of Art's virtual tour is to acquaint the public with the museum's buildings and exhibition spaces, great attention was paid to reproducing the texture of the walls, the mood of the lighting, and so forth. Although the tour requires the user to download the free Viewpoint media player, the software runs in both Windows and Mac environments, in accordance with the museum's guidelines. It can also be adjusted easily to suit other museums' rules and requirements. The museum enjoys a fruitful partnership with Kokuyo, which will continue to provide support services for the creation of outstanding digital content.

Suntory Museum of Art Website

The Suntory Museum of Art plans every aspect of its buildings and exhibition spaces in painstaking detail, deploying innovative techniques throughout. Users can learn about the museum's interesting features in advance, making their visit to the actual museum more fruitful.

museum data

Suntory Museum of Art

Location: Tokyo Midtown Gardenside, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8643
http://suntory.jp/SMA/
Architects: Kengo Kuma & Associates, Nikken Sekkei Ltd.

Suntory Museum of Art (C) Keizo Kioku

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