National Museum of Western Art was designed by the Swiss architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris (1887–1965), who is more popularly known as Le Corbusier. It is the only representative example of his work in the Far East; and the "New York Times" review of its opening suggested that the building itself presented an "artistic significance and beauty" which rivaled the paintings inside. The multi-story, reinforced concrete building was completed in March 1959 as a symbol of the resumption of diplomatic ties between Japan and France after World War II. The museum was built to house the collection of works gathered by the industrialist Matsukata Kojiro between 1920
Charles Bateman (architect) Charles Bateman (architect) Charles Edward Bateman FRIBA (8 June 1863 – 5 August 1947) was an English architect, known for his Arts and Crafts and Queen Anne-style houses and commercial buildings in the Birmingham area and for his sensitive vernacular restoration and extension work in the Cotswolds. Bateman was born in Castle Bromwich, the son of architect John Jones Bateman, and educated in London and Eastbourne. In 1880 he was articled as a trainee in his father's practice before spending two years in the offices of London architects "Verity and Hunt". Verity and Hunt also had offices in Evesham, and