The National Ainu Museum, one of the core facilities of Upopoy, serves as a center for the preservation, creative development, and transmission of Ainu culture. Its architecture is characterized by a strong symbolic presence and a design that extends seamlessly into the surrounding environment, creating an iconic expression of the worldview of Ainu history and culture.
Inside the museum, dynamic Ainu patterns are projected across expansive wall surfaces together with wayfinding information, expressing the richness and enduring value of a culture that has continued to live in harmony with its natural environment. The information presented through light is not fixed or permanent; instead, its fluid nature reflects the unique continuity of Ainu culture, which has been passed down through generations primarily through oral tradition.
By projecting graphics directly into the space without physically altering the architectural surfaces, the system allows multilingual information, with Ainu as the primary language, to be dynamically displayed according to optimized programs. This creates an adaptable signage environment in which information, like the culture itself, can continuously evolve and be passed on.