[Industry-Academia Collaboration Project] átoa × Felissimo × Otemae University: Will a Humboldt Penguin guide you to the átoa entrance? Street art signage debuts at Kobe Port Museum!!
The Kobe aquarium 'átoa' and Felissimo have collaborated on an industry-academia project to install unique street art signage that guides visitors using indicators like 'penguin steps', improving navigability in the Kobe waterfront area.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 2, 2026 at 19:36
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 05:37 (442h 0m after Collected)
AQUARIUM×ART átoa (Shinkocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, hereinafter 'átoa'), in cooperation with Felissimo Co., Ltd. (Shinkocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, President Kazuhiko Yazaki), and under the supervision of Associate Professor Takagi of Otemae University, has created 'street signage' to enhance the navigability of the Kobe waterfront area, and will start guidance on March 27, 2026. The signage design was handled by Mr. Hosokawa of Bowl Inc., who was in charge of the area design for the New Seaport (Shinkocho area), taking into consideration the affinity with the area.
## ■ Project Background
átoa, the felissimo chocolate museum (hereinafter 'Chocolate Museum'), and FELISSIMO f winery (hereinafter 'f winery') all share a common challenge: their entrances are located away from the street, making the entrance routes difficult to understand. To solve this issue, a joint project was launched.
*The entrances for átoa and the Chocolate Museum are on the 2nd floor, while the entrance for the f winery is at the seaside green space plaza.
What was shared from the beginning was the desire to 'create a design that excites you when you see it'. This is exactly the core value cherished by both átoa, which works to create experiential value beyond an aquarium based on the concept of fusing aquarium and art, and Felissimo, which undertakes various projects with the core value of 'happiness to be happy together'.
## ■ Unique Indicators and Visibility Unique to this Location
Instead of the standard notation like '○ minutes on foot', we adopted unique distance indicators that utilize the characteristics of each facility. For example, '○ penguin steps to átoa' or '○ wine bottles to the winery'. We have prepared a mechanism where you can intuitively imagine the distance and makes you want to actually walk and feel it.
Large illustrations minimize text information and are drawn largely on the road surface. The design allows everyone from children to tourists to walk intuitively while having fun.
[Target Facilities]
- AQ...
## ■ Project Background
átoa, the felissimo chocolate museum (hereinafter 'Chocolate Museum'), and FELISSIMO f winery (hereinafter 'f winery') all share a common challenge: their entrances are located away from the street, making the entrance routes difficult to understand. To solve this issue, a joint project was launched.
*The entrances for átoa and the Chocolate Museum are on the 2nd floor, while the entrance for the f winery is at the seaside green space plaza.
What was shared from the beginning was the desire to 'create a design that excites you when you see it'. This is exactly the core value cherished by both átoa, which works to create experiential value beyond an aquarium based on the concept of fusing aquarium and art, and Felissimo, which undertakes various projects with the core value of 'happiness to be happy together'.
## ■ Unique Indicators and Visibility Unique to this Location
Instead of the standard notation like '○ minutes on foot', we adopted unique distance indicators that utilize the characteristics of each facility. For example, '○ penguin steps to átoa' or '○ wine bottles to the winery'. We have prepared a mechanism where you can intuitively imagine the distance and makes you want to actually walk and feel it.
Large illustrations minimize text information and are drawn largely on the road surface. The design allows everyone from children to tourists to walk intuitively while having fun.
[Target Facilities]
- AQ...