当館の技術

Technologies Applied in this Museum

Along with design that’s harmonious with the atmosphere of ancient Nara, we have put forth the technologies accumulated in our long history such as the Seismic Isolation System to reinforce security, and our air-conditioning system to offer a comfortable environment.

HARMONY

HARMONY

—Design and Construction Technology—

01Designed to Promote
"Japanese Style"
Blending with
the Cityscape of Nara

We have designed the museum under the concept of harmony with the beautiful cityscape of ancient Nara.

02Construction Technology
for Exposed Concrete

To achieve a finer texture than that of ordinary exposed concrete, we applied formwork of cedar panels 35 to 60 mm wide and 12 mm and 15 mm thick, boarded up with plywood. With plenty of trials and testing, we paid careful attention to the management of cedar panels (pretreatment, moisture conditions and cross-section shape), solidity of concrete and the appropriate timing to remove the formwork.

Passing down the History
of the Former Nara Construction Office

This museum is built in place of Okumura Corporation’s former Nara Construction Office building, which had long been used as our management hub in Nara. The memory of the old building is carried on through the reuse of beams and roof tiles and the preservation of a cherry tree.

Exterior View of the Old Office (from southwest) Exterior View of the Old Office (from southwest)
Exterior View of the Old Office
(from southwest)
Exterior View of the Old Office (from northeast) Exterior View of the Old Office (from northeast)
Exterior View of the Old Office
(from northeast)

This museum is built in place of Okumura Corporation’s former Nara Construction Office building, which had long been used as our management hub in Nara. The memory of the old building is carried on through the reuse of beams and roof tiles and the preservation of a cherry tree.

Reuse of beams of the Old Office Reuse of beams of the Old Office
Reuse of beams of the Old Office
Displaying roof tiles of the Old Office in a line on the lawn patio Displaying roof tiles of the Old Office in a line on the lawn patio
Displaying roof tiles of the Old Office in a line on the lawn patio
Roof tiles of the Old Office paving the bottom of the basin Roof tiles of the Old Office paving the bottom of the basin
Roof tiles of the Old Office paving the
bottom of the basin
Preservation of the old cherry tree without replanting it Preservation of the old cherry tree without replanting it
Preservation of the old cherry tree
without replanting it
Displaying an elegant wash basin from the Old Office as a decorative object Displaying an elegant wash basin from the Old Office as a decorative object
Displaying an elegant wash basin
from the Old Office as a decorative object

SECURITY

SECURITY

—Structural Design with
Seismic Isolation System and More—

01Seismic Isolation Structure Design Using
High Damping Rubber Bearings and Elastic Sliding Bearings

The combination of rubber bearings and elastic sliding bearings achieves long-term seismic isolation.
This system is economically applicable to relatively light-weight buildings. High damping rubber bearings display resilience and damping capability in the rubber itself and make dampers unnecessary.

Foundation Beam Layout Foundation Beam Layout
Foundation Beam Layout
Frame Format of Foundation Frame Format of Foundation
Frame Format of Foundation

02Construction Without
Foundation Beams Near Abuttals

This museum has applied no-foundation-beam construction near abuttals to avoid affecting the neighboring buildings, save soil-retaining and excavation labor, and reduce the cost. A minimum of foundation beams have been furnished against rotative force at the pile top in case of an earthquake.

03Downsizing of Seismic Isolation Pit
Using Hanging Structure

Size reduction of the seismic isolation pit area decreased the cost. This enabled hanging structures in some parts. Because the length from the hanging parts to the eaves is 6 meters, a hybrid structure of steel roof construction and RC pillars is applied to decrease the weight of hanging parts and control flexure.

Architectural Analysis Model Chart Architectural Analysis Model Chart
Architectural Analysis Model Chart
EG Anchor Plate EG Anchor Plate
EG Anchor Plate
Steel Beam Joint Part Steel Beam Joint Part
Steel Beam Joint Part

04Joining RC Pillars and
Steel Beams
by EG Anchor Plate Method

The EG Anchor Plate Method is applied to anchor rebar with round anchor plates screwed manually at the end of the rebar, and grouting is not necessary. In this museum, this method is applied to anchor bolts so that construction of narrow pillars becomes easy. This method refines the pillar-beam joint, simplifies the construction and reduces the cost.

05Well-crafted Fitting

We have provided a neat appearance on floors where seismic isolation and non-seismic isolation areas meet, and in the fitting of handrails, with refined design.

Sliding Movable Handrail Sliding Movable Handrail
Sliding Movable Handrail
Joining RC Floor Joining RC Floor
Joining RC Floor

COMFORT

COMFORT

—Facility Design—

01Effective Air Conditioning

Displacement air-conditioning and a passive rhythming air-conditioning system are applied on the first floor to promote energy saving and comfort. Air flow direction can be switched during cooling or heating—especially in the two-story atrium—to enable quiet and mild air conditioning. The combination of ceiling-blowing-off and floor-blowing-off air-conditioning systems in the second-floor office increases comfort. The heat source is an ice thermal storage type air-conditioning system using electric power with late-night charges. This has enabled a low voltage power receiving system without installing cubicles. Air conditioner vents are concealed in the room for better design, and appropriate temperature distribution is planned using airflow analysis techniques.

Overview of the Air-Conditioning System Overview of the Air-Conditioning System
Overview of the Air-Conditioning System
Switching Airflow Direction in the Showroom Switching Airflow Direction in the Showroom
Switching Airflow Direction in the Showroom
[Temperature Distribution Chart when Cooled] Simulation Results [Temperature Distribution Chart when Cooled] Simulation Results
[Temperature Distribution Chart when Cooled] Simulation Results
[Sound Pressure Level] Simulation Results [Sound Pressure Level] Simulation Results
[Sound Pressure Level] Simulation Results

02Noise Control
in the Basement Machine Room

For noise control and design purposes, the ice thermal storage tank and the outdoor unit are installed in the basement machine room located underneath the archives. In order to control noise from machines, simulation using noise prediction plan technology was conducted, and the locations and the sizes of air inlets and outlets were decided according to the simulation results.