Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Museum Phase 2 Renewal

The second phase of renovation work at the Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Museum included the creation of "Adult Discovery" and the renovation and improvement of the "Discovery Room," restaurant, museum shop, atrium, and special displays rooms.
Designed to satisfy the curiosity of adults and encourage repeated use, "Adult Discovery" is a learning and exchange space that conveys the joy of museums, increases interest in Lake Biwa, and fosters a desire to participate in local and museum activities. With over 1,000 specimens of animals, plants, minerals, and more, the space and functions have been designed to encourage users to surround themselves with specimens and engage in activities such as looking at them, selecting and handling them, observing them under a microscope, researching them in encyclopedias, and asking questions to curators. There is a corner where visitors can experience how to carefully observe and sketch specimens, and an open lab where they can experience museum research and data organization firsthand. The Discovery Room serves as the "gateway to the museum," an interactive space where visitors can learn and discover through taxidermy and their five senses.

The Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Museum opened in 1996 (Heisei 8) with the theme of "Lakes and People," and nearly 20 years have passed since then. During this time, research, studies, and the collection of valuable materials have progressed through interaction and collaboration between museum staff and various people outside the museum. The museum was required to convey these results to a wider audience through displays, and to create a system that would allow visitors' interests and curiosity to be guided towards new developments through exchange activities utilizing the museum.

For the first time in Japan, there will be a real intellectual space "Adult Discovery" that adults can enjoy, as well as a discovery room where you can learn and discover with your five senses. built a base.

The 2nd phase renewal allowed us to reconstruct the exchange space, enhance the exchange function, and increase the number of visitors.