Born in 1954, Kengo Kuma (隈 研名, Kuma Kengo) is a well-known Japanese architect and an emeritus professor at the University of Tokyo’s Department of Architecture (Graduate School of Engineering). In addition to being recognized for his prolific writings, he is often likened to contemporary authors Shigeru Ban and Kazuyo Sejima.
Kuma’s declared objective is to reclaim and reinterpret the legacy of Japanese architecture and reinterpret it for the twenty-first century. His ongoing pieces are deeply interested in using materiality2 to manipulate light concerning nature. The Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, which was constructed for the 2020 Summer Olympics, was designed by him.
Kuma started the Spatial Design Studio in 1987 and Kengo Kuma & Associates¹, his own company, in 1990. he established his firm, Kengo Kuma & Associates¹. The firm employs over 300 architects in Tokyo, China (Beijing and Shanghai), and Paris, designing projects of diverse types and scales worldwide.
Kuma’s work is characterized by his innovative use of natural materials and new ways of thinking about light and lightness. His architecture enhances rather than dominates its surroundings. His seminal text “Anti-Object: The Dissolution and Disintegration of Architecture” written in 2008, calls for an architecture of relations, respecting its surroundings instead of dominating them.
The relationship between architecture and the soil lies at the heart of Kengo Kuma’s architectural philosophy. He thinks structures are artifacts developed by humans that will ultimately be removed from their natural surroundings. His goal is to investigate and deepen the relationship between architecture and the terrain.
Kuma’s inventive use of natural materials and different perspectives on light and lightness are features that define his work. His design for architecture complements its environment rather than overpowers it. His 2008 landmark book “Anti-Object: The Dissolution and Disintegration of Architecture” advocates for an architecture of communications that honors rather than dominates its surroundings.
His philosophy of “negative architecture” aims to provide fresh perspectives on architecture through critical thinking. Negative Value Isn’t Negative is a desire to go back to the original, to place the environment front and center, and to give architecture a supporting function rather than a statement of loss.
The conceptual paradigm of architectural regionalism, according to which designs vary substantially according to their location, is embraced by Kuma’s designs. This is because our local identity gives us distinct contextual meanings.
Kuma’s concept, down to its most basic form, is to use his work to create a balance between the natural world, architecture, and human anatomy. He has a preference for unconventional materials, some of which can be abrasive, like stone and wood. Other materials include vinyl, plastic, bamboo, and ceramics. He employs small slices of them, treating them as though they were light wood or glass.
Kengo Kuma has designed numerous unique structures both in Japan and worldwide. His works are often warm, inviting, modest, and reflective of the cities and towns they are erected in¹. Here are some of his significant works:
1. Takanawa Gateway Station, Tokyo: This is the newest station on Tokyo’s most important trainline, the Yamanote¹. The station’s exterior is highlighted by its expansive white roof that glows a warm amber at night; the interior of the station is filled with pleasant light and laminated wood beams.
2. Nagaoka City Hall Aore, Nagaoka: Located in Niigata prefecture in the Chubu region of Japan, the city hall contains a semi-outdoor space inspired by the earthen floored rooms in traditional Japanese houses.
3. GC Prostho Museum Research Center, Japan: A striking facade with a wooden grid clads this museum research center in Kasugai, Japan. At night, light escapes through the wooden slats, making the 10-metre-high building lantern-like.
4. Daiwa Ubiquitous Computing Research Building, Japan: Wooden strips clad the facade of this building, which Kuma designed for the University of Tokyo’s computing facility².
5. Small Bath House in Izu (1988) (with Satoko Shinohara)
6. M2 building (1989–1991)
7. Kiro-San observatory (1994)
8. Kitakami Canal Museum (1994)
9. Water/Glass, Atami (1995)
10. Bato Hiroshige Museum (2000)
11. Stone Museum (2000)
12. Great (Bamboo) Wall House, Beijing (2002)
Source:
(1) Kengo Kuma – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kengo_Kuma.
(2) Spotlight: Kengo Kuma | ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/771525/spotlight-kengo-kuma.
(3) The Life & Architectural Career of Kengo Kuma – archisoup …. https://www.archisoup.com/kengo-kuma.
(4) Kengo Kuma | MoMA. https://www.moma.org/artists/44528.
(5) Image source
kengo kuma – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kengo_Kuma
https://arquitecturaviva.com/works/museo-y-centro-de-investigacion-prostho-3
https://darcawards.com/portfolio/takanawa-gateway-station-japan/
