The Versailles Prize is a prestigious international architecture award established in 2015 by UNESCO. It celebrates outstanding design across eight categories, including airports, commercial spaces, hotels, and sports facilities. Winners are selected by a distinguished panel of architects and philosophers.

In each category, three awards are presented: the top honor, the Versailles Prize, as well as Special Prizes for Interior Design and Exterior Design. In June 2024, Simose Art Museum was one of seven museums worldwide nominated as “The Most Beautiful Museum in the World.” At the awards ceremony held on December 2, Simose Art Museum earned the top honor, the Versailles Prize.

The news of Simose Art Museum winning the Versailles Prize has been widely covered by Japanese media. Architect Shigeru Ban expressed his gratitude, saying, “This was my first opportunity to design freely, and I am deeply thankful to everyone involved for allowing me to fully realize my vision.”

“I believe the Simose Art Museum project expresses a great deal. Its use of vibrant colors is particularly fascinating and rare for a museum setting. Additionally, the design embodies a sense of ‘lightness.’ The seamless integration of the interior and exterior made a profound impression on the judges. It seems that the entire jury agreed on the merits of this project. However, I must note that these are my personal impressions as I am not part of the jury and cannot speak directly for them.”

“Simose Art Museum spans approximately 400 meters along the Seto Inland Sea, making the most of its natural surroundings. Features such as floating, movable galleries and wooden architecture were likely key to its recognition. This was my first opportunity to design a project with such creative freedom, and I am deeply grateful to Museum Director Yumiko Simose and everyone involved in the process.”

“We are deeply honored to receive the Versailles Prize. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Shigeru Ban, the architect, and everyone who contributed to the construction of this museum. When we first approached Mr. Ban for the design, he visited the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and expressed his desire to capture their multicolored beauty. He showed us a concept featuring colorful, movable exhibition rooms composed of floating cubes. The moment I saw the architectural rendering, I was determined to make this unprecedented concept of a movable museum a reality.

The construction of the floating exhibition rooms was incredibly challenging. The base structure was meticulously crafted at a shipyard and transported to the site via barge crane, while the upper structure was constructed onsite. I will never forget the moment during the pre-opening floatation test when the 42-ton cube began to rise, drawing cheers from everyone present. Even more astonishing, the structure proved light enough to be moved by just one person.

Since opening in March 2023, the museum has welcomed visitors from around the world. We hope many more people will visit Simose Art Museum and experience the unparalleled beauty of the Seto Inland Sea and its islands.”

・A4 Art Museum (China)
・Grand Egyptian Museum (Egypt)
・Smritivan Earthquake Museum (India)
・Simose Art Museum (Japan)
・Paleis Het Loo (Netherlands)
・Oman Across Ages Museum (Oman)
・Polish History Museum (Poland)