Spatial Reality Displays give visitors an immersive tour of the National Museum of Western Art

Sony ELF-SR2 Spatial Reality Displays allow museum guests to explore an interactive virtual 3D model of the culturally significant building.

How we helped
The Challenge

• A Tokyo museum needed to give visitors immersive visualization of the historic architectural space
• It was necessary to achieve both accurate building data recording and high image quality representation

The Solution

• Five ELF-SR2 Spatial Reality Displays present point cloud data of the building captured by laser scanners

The Outcome

• Visitors enjoy a detailed virtual tour without 3D glasses
• Guests can interact with images on 27-inch displays via a game-style controller

The National Museum of Western Art is an icon in architectural design
Japan’s premier public gallery specializing in art from the Western tradition, the National Museum of Western Art (NMWA) in central Tokyo was established in 1959. The site was listed in 2016 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its design by architect Le Corbusier as an ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement’.

More than 60 years after its construction, changes in regulations led to the closure of many areas of the gallery that were not compliant with the current law. To allow visitors to experience the building’s unique artistic and architectural value – including its non-public areas – NMWA proposed a comprehensive representation of the institution’s architectural history and cultural significance. To achieve this the museum engaged Elysium, a leading company specializing in 3D data interoperability solutions.

“The ability to experience three-dimensional effects without wearing special glasses and the responsiveness to head movements were impressive.” -Kyo Fukuda, Chief Researcher, World Heritage Office, National Museum of Western Art.

Accurately capturing every detail of a historic space
The solution required the ability to capture accurate data describing the building, and to reproduce it with very high image quality. Challenges to achieving this included incomplete architectural drawings, construction errors, and changes resulting from frequent renovations to the structure of the building over time.

Realistic 3D viewing
The solution proposed by Elysium Co., Ltd. used laser scanners to accurately capture three-dimensional point cloud data representing the building. This data was subsequently reproduced in extremely high quality using Sony’s ground-breaking ELF-SR2 Spatial Reality Display (SRD). Named “NAB Show Product of the Year 2023”, the ELF-SR2 opens up exciting possibilities for creating and displaying 3D content in industrial and professional applications.

The 27-inch display offers extremely high resolution, bright, natural-looking 3D spatial images. Exclusive eye tracking technology senses the position of the viewer’s eyes, presenting immersive images from a wide range of viewing angles with no need to wear special glasses. Five Spatial Reality Displays were installed in the museum’s entrance hall, allowing visitors to explore architectural and artistic aspects of the building through immersive three-dimensional content.

“The ability to experience three-dimensional effects without wearing special glasses and the responsiveness to head movements were impressive. The decision to adopt this solution was driven by the sense that it might surpass our initial expectations, offering an unparalleled experience,” notes Kyo Fukuda, Chief Researcher of the World Heritage Office at the National Museum of Western Art.

Faithfully recreating fine wood grain
“From July to September 2023, we installed five SRDs in the entrance hall and presented 3D content titled ‘A World Heritage Site at Your Fingertips – Exploring the National Museum of Western Art’” says Kyo Fukuda. “I was surprised not only by the three-dimensional experience but also by the high-precision reproduction of intricate details. The round columns in our museum are crafted using the traditional Japanese technique of creating formwork with Himekomatsu wood, and then pouring concrete into it. This process brings out the wood grain in the concrete, resulting in a unique and esthetically valuable feature. Le Corbusier himself praised this beauty, attributing it to the meticulousness of Japanese craftsmanship in his collection of works. The ability to see this wood grain in such high detail was truly gratifying for our institution.”

Interactive insight into historic architectural works
The Spatial Reality Display’s stereoscopic images could be manipulated by visitors using a game-style controller, allowing interactive exploration of the building’s cross section. “In the future, I hope that this system will allow us to appreciate architectural works from 17 different locations worldwide,” states Kyo Fukuda. “Physically visiting assets in seven countries can be challenging, but with this system using the SRD displays, you can experience the immersion of Le Corbusier’s architecture even from a distance. It provides an opportunity to delve deeper into understanding why these buildings became World Heritage Sites, what impact they had on later architects, and how they have contributed to modern architecture.”

An enhanced sense of visual immersion
“Elysium has had the opportunity to be involved in the digitization of numerous cultural heritage sites, gaining a deep understanding of the challenges associated with the use of 3D data and the struggles of on-site managers” comments Daisuke Nakagawa, General Manager of Elysium. “Rather than simply displaying 3D data of valuable architectural structures on a 2D display, there was a desire to deliver their value and significance as an ‘experience’.

“With its excellent response to the tracking signals of the viewer’s eyes and the ability to move content accordingly, the ELF-SR2 enhances the sense of immersion. The non-contact nature and the ability to view without glasses also provide advantages in delivering the value of cultural heritage to a broader audience. We look forward to continuing to rely on SRD displays that offer a seamless and high-quality three-dimensional visual experience of the value and charm of cultural heritage and the information that experts want to convey.”