TAKIYA タキヤ株式会社

The Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid opened in 1819 as a royal museum, founded on the collections of successive Spanish monarchs. Enriched over the years through donations and acquisitions, it has become one of the world's foremost museums, distinguished by both the quality and breadth of its holdings. Its collection comprises more than 8,000 paintings, including an unrivalled collection of Spanish art.

At the heart of the Prado are the works of Diego Velázquez and Francisco de Goya, two court painters who stand among the greatest figures in Spanish painting. From Velázquez's supreme masterpiece, Las Meninas, to Goya's The Naked Maja and The Clothed Maja, and El Greco's The Annunciation, the museum brings together an extraordinary array of works central to the history of painting, leaving visitors in awe.

TAKIYA's relationship with the Prado began in 2002. A curator from the museum noticed TAKIYA's picture rails at Masterpieces from the Museum of Prado, an exhibition held at the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo. That interest led to TAKIYA supplying its products to the Prado. Two years later, an email arrived: "We are considering TAKIYA's display hardware for our new building and would like you to send us some samples."

It felt like an invitation from the Prado itself, one of the world's great sanctuaries of art. TAKIYA promptly flew to Madrid with an extensive selection of display hardware. The Prado's curators were delighted with the products. While the main building was devoted primarily to the permanent collection, the new wing would focus on temporary exhibitions. TAKIYA's picture rails and other display hardware, combining ease of use with exceptional strength, offered precisely what they needed.

Discussions progressed, and the Prado entrusted TAKIYA with a direct commission. The company was invited to take part in the construction of the new wing designed by Rafael Moneo, with a mission to jointly develop bespoke display hardware tailored to the museum's exhibition requirements.

In 2007, the new Moneo-designed extension was completed beside the historic main building, which had witnessed nearly two centuries of the museum's history. As a contributor to this project, TAKIYA became part of a new chapter in the Prado's story.