The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto is located in the heart of historic Kyoto. As such, the appropriate expression of 20th century modern spirit within a sensitive context was considered the most important design theme. Because of its location in a scenic district, the exterior design was kept modest. The interior provides for a variety of functions, including temporary and permanent exhibition space, storage, and an auditorium. A 1.5-meter grid was used for the basic exterior module - representing horizontality and verticality, present and past, transparency and mass, and the duality of Japanese and Western.