Kengo Kuma's essays reflect on the impact of significant disasters, including the 9/11 attacks and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Through these writings, he explores the relationship between architecture and catastrophe, emphasizing the need for resilience and renewal in the face of destruction. The collection offers insights into how architecture can respond to and recover from trauma, making it relevant for both architects and those interested in urban resilience and cultural memory.
Long regarded in Japan as a master architect, Kengo Kuma first entered the European limelight two years ago when he won the „Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award“, being the second architect to win this prize after Renzo Piano. Timber construction, however, is merely one field in which this declared environmentallysensitive architect has specialised. This monograph presents 14 selected projects from 1992-2003, including the Museum of Hiroshige Ando and Stone Museum (Toshigi Prefecture, Japan), the Water/Glass-Villa (Atami, Japan), the Plastic House in Tokyo and the Bamboo House near the Great Wall of China. All projects are portrayed in exact technical drawings full of details and material specifications.
"A personal tour of Tokyo's architecture, as seen through the eyes of one of the world's most acclaimed architects who is also designing the primary venue for the Tokyo Olympic games. Tokyo is Japan's cultural and commercial epicenter, bursting with vibrancy and life. Its buildings, both historical and contemporary, are a direct reflection of its history and its people. Kengo Kuma was only ten years old when he found himself so inspired by Tokyo's cityscape that he decided to become an architect. Here he tells the story of his career through twenty-five inspirational buildings in the city. Kuma's passion is evident on every page, as well as his curiosity about construction methods and his wealth of knowledge about buildings around the world, making this a unique commentary on Tokyo's dynamic architecture. Kengo Kuma: My Life as an Architect is an intimate and truly inspiring book, revealing the beauty that exists in the world's everyday spaces." -- Provided by publisher
This inspiring book surveys the creative design innovations of small houses in Japan, showcasing eighteen recently built and unique homes, ranging from ultramodern to rustic styles. It emphasizes the "big idea" behind each house—elements that enhance the perception of spaciousness. These ideas include ingenious natural light sources, thoughtfully designed loft spaces, functional kitchens, unobtrusive partitions, and clear circulation paths. An introductory section contextualizes these homes within contemporary lifestyle trends and highlights their common features. The detailed Houses section explains the intentions of both designers and occupants, revealing a human sensibility that reflects the dreams and aspirations these unique homes embody, despite their modest appearances. The second half illustrates special features, such as innovative storage solutions, kitchen designs, and revolutionary skylights and partitions. Building small is portrayed as a sign of higher ambitions, encouraging readers to appreciate the positive and creative potential of small homes. This collection offers homeowners, designers, and architects a wealth of ideas, demonstrating how small living can enhance life in unexpected ways.
This monograph offers an in-depth exploration of the work of acclaimed Belgian floral artist Daniel Ost, showcasing his innovative designs and artistic philosophy. It highlights his unique approach to floral art, emphasizing his ability to blend nature with contemporary aesthetics. The book serves as a definitive resource for understanding Ost's influence on the floral design world, featuring stunning visuals and insights into his creative process.
The objective of Kengo Kuma is to erase architecture: finding harmony between natural and artificial and mediating the encounter between man and the environment. The drawings collected in this book tell the fading of architecture through textures drawn in graphite that overlap different layers of land, building and sky, in a harmonious whole. Initial sketches go alongside with the study of the technical details that helped to achieve the final result. The use of natural materials - wood, bamboo, stone, rice-paper - merged with technological innovation and compositional skill combines Eastern traditions and look to the future. Among Kuma's major works are Kiro-san Observatory (1995), Water/Glass (1995, received AIA DuPont Benedictus Award), Noh Stage in the Forest, Toyoma Center for Performance Arts (received 1997 Architectural Institute of Japan Annual Award), Nakagawa-machi Bato Hiroshige Museum of Art (received the Murano Prize). Recent works include Nezu Museum (2009, Tokyo), Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum (2010), Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center (2012), Nagaoka City Hall Aore (2012), and Jugetsudo Kabukiza (2013). Outside Japan, Besan�on Art Center and Cit� de la Musique and FRAC Marseille have been recently completed.
Ein Gebäude der Zukunft! Das ArtLab ist das neueste Gebäude auf dem Campus der Eliteuniversität École Polytechnique Fédérale in Lausanne. Der renommierte Architekt Kengo Kuma entwarf diesen einzigartigen Bau als einen symbolischen Ort der Kunst, Kultur und Technologie. Er beheimatet drei Pavillons – das Montreux Jazz Café, einen Ausstellungspavillon für Kunst und Wissenschaft und die Galerie Datasquare für Informationstechnologie –, die mittels eines 235 m langen anthrazitfarbenen Schieferdaches verbunden sind. Zusammen mit den Gebäuden von SANAA und Dominique Perrault bildet das ArtLab nun das neue Herzstück des EPFL Campus und zeigt, wie innovativ, verbindend und zukunftorientiert Architektur heute sein kann.
Der international renommierte japanische Architekt Kengo Kuma hat für den Park des Museums für Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt am Main ein vollkommen neuartiges Teehaus entwickelt: eine luftgetragene Form. Durch ein Kompressorsystem aktiviert, erwächst das Teehaus wie eine Blüte aus dem semitransparenten High Tech-Material GORE-Tenara, im Inneren finden Tatami-Matten, ein elektrisch beheizbarer Herd für den Wasserkessel, eine Tokonoma Nische und ein Vorbereitungsraum Platz. Die doppelwandige Hülle mit inneren Koppelseilen erzeugt eine golfballähnliche Membrantextur und macht zudem eine Luftschleuse überflüssig. Eine integrierte LED-Technik lässt das Teehaus im Dunklen sanft, fast mythisch, erstrahlen. Dieses jüngste Projekt Kumas ist ein Symbol für die traditionsbewusste Modernität des heutigen Japans und seiner Architektur, aber auch ein richtungsweisendes Beispiel temporären und mobilen Bauens, das nur Dank einer ungewöhnlich dichten internationalen Kooperation zwischen Architekten, Ingenieuren und Unternehmen realisiert werden konnte. Das vorliegende Buch entfaltet die technologischen, kulturhistorischen und ästhetischen Aspekte dieser Neuinterpration des japanischen Teehauses.
