The text describes Kengo Kuma as a leading figure in contemporary Japanese architecture, following architects like Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, and Fumihiko Maki. Rejecting 20th-century modernist skyscrapers, Kuma developed a sustainable, site-specific approach rooted in local craftsmanship, materials, and cultural context. Known as a “materialist,” he creates tactile, lightweight designs that reconnect people with the physical experience of architecture, always aiming to respect the culture and environment of each location.
His projects include the China Academy of Art’s Folk Art Museum (built partly from recycled roof tiles), a birch-and-moss chapel in Nagano, the V&A Dundee inspired by Scottish coastal cliffs, Chokkura Plaza, and the Yangcheng Lake Tourist Transportation Center. He also designed the Japan National Stadium for the 2020 Olympic Games, envisioning it as a catalyst to transform Tokyo’s concrete landscape.
The accompanying monograph, featuring around 500 illustrations, surveys Kuma’s career, highlighting major projects and ongoing work.
Published by TaschenVerlag, 2021
Language: Multiple languages
15 x 25 inches
