Albert Kahn Museum | Kengo Kuma & Associates

The Albert Kahn Museum is situated on the southern edge of the Bois de Boulogne, an expansive public park in the western region of Paris.

The Albert Kahn Museum, established by Albert Kahn (1840-1940), a renowned trading merchant, is home to a significant collection of 72,000 color photographs and 183,000 meters of film. These archives, which form the group’s core, reflect his extensive travels worldwide. Kahn displayed a keen interest in Japan and various Asian regions, capturing the essence of life in Asia during that period. His photographs hold great historical and cultural significance.
Albert Kahn’s dream was to recreate gardens from all five continents; the Japanese garden, in particular, is a remarkable attraction. He went to great lengths to have gardeners from Japan construct this beautiful garden.

Albert Kahn Museum’s Concept Design

The exhibition area was carefully planned as a continuous, linear path that seamlessly connects with the garden. An aluminum and wood screen was incorporated to maintain the desired integration between the two, following the way horizontally and vertically while regulating the connection between the outdoor environment and the display space. This approach successfully realized Albert Kahn’s vision of harmoniously blending the garden and exhibition area through the thoughtful integration of architecture and nature.

On the side facing the city, the Albert Kahn Museum’s envelope primarily features aluminum, while on the garden side, wood takes precedence. These two materials are sometimes blended in a gradient, creating a dynamic “biological skin” that gracefully adjusts to various surroundings, establishing a symbiotic relationship with its environment.

Project Info:
Architects: Kengo Kuma & Associates
Area: 4980 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Michel Denancé, Think Utopia, Olivier Ravoire
Construction: CASTELALU, EHRMANN, NORMEN, Balas, Spie, PLACOUEST
Illumination: ARTEC
Design Team: Sebastien Yeou, Lopez Arahuetes Diego*, Jordi Vinals, Elise Fauquembergue, Sarah Marquert*, Marion Geinzer*, Pascal Ferreira*, Carla Beaujard*, Charles Detilleux*, Mathieu Faliu*
Cooperation: AIA Ingénierie
Facility: Setec Batiment
Landscape Design: Michel Desvigne Paysagiste
City: Boulogne-Billancourt
Country: France