Through our interview program, I’ve had the chance to meet with some of the world’s most renowned architects, while creating a moment to share their views about the profession with our readers.

During the 2011 AIA National Convention, I had the chance to meet Kengo Kuma, one of Japan’s most recognized architects, whose work I admire. His recent works use subtle elements with a powerful structural expression, and interesting spatial results for different programs of various scales.

Established in 1990, Kengo Kuma & Associates have become known for their expressive use of materiality and deep connection with nature. The mid-sized firm is involved in a wide spectrum of work, ranging from private residences, to Buddhist temples and art museums. Kengo Kuma & Associates consist of two offices located in Tokyo and Paris.

Principle Architect Kengo Kuma is a professor at the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Tokyo. His goal is to recover traditional Japanese design and reinterpret it for the 21st century. Inspiration of light and nature guides the design process and influences his unique explorations with glass, wood, concrete and stone. Kuma strives to create architecture that coexists with the natural environment and works in harmony with the human body.

Kengo Kuma has won a multitude of competitions and received many awards, including the prestigious Architecture Institute of Japan Award (1997) and most recently the Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award (2002) and the AIA Honorary Fellowship (2011). Major works include the Kirosan Observatory, Water / Glass, Toyoma Center for Performing Arts, Stone Museum and Bato-machi Hiroshige Museum. Recent works include the Mesh / Earth terrace house, the Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum and the Suntory Museum of Art.

Projects by Kengo Kuma & Associates at ArchDaily:

• Casalgrande Old House
• GC Prostho Museum Research Center
• Lucien Pellat-Finet Shinsaibashi
• Momofuku Ando Center
• And more to come in the next days!

From the Kengo Kuma Lab in the University of Tokyo, we received this video showing an architecture related exhibition on intermediate space and experimental architecture inspired by Japanese traditional patterns that we recently exhibited in Tokyo, curated by Kengo Kuma, Matteo Belfiore, and Salvator-John A. Liotta, which is part of two exhibitions and a series of symposia organized by The Italian Cultural Center of Tokyo in concomitance with the UIA International Congress of Architecture.

Some more images after the break. read more »

Photo by Kenta Mabuchi - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kentamabuchi/

Tea ceremonies have evolved a great deal since they first got their start in the ninth century, and as the ceremonies have grown and shifted in purpose, so have the tea houses that hold them.

Initially tea was seen as a medicine used to cultivate the mind, body and spirit; tea was seen as good for monks because it helped them to stay awake for long periods of meditation. For this reason, the military class sponsored the construction of large zen temples for monks to drink tea in. As tea began to grow in popularity beyond the temple, tea ceremonies became a source of entertainment for members of the upper class who could afford to gamble, read poetry and attend tea parties in extravagant pavilions. More information after the break. read more »

Courtesy of Kengo Kuma

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently announced the recipients of the 2011 Honorary Fellowship (Hon. FAIA). This is given to architects with distinguished achievements, who display exceptional character and are held in high esteem by colleagues. Hon. FAIA members are neither U.S. citizens nor U.S. residents, and do not primarily practice architecture within the domain of the AIA.

The 2011 Hon. FAIA recipients:
Angelo Bucci, Brazil, SPBR Arquitectos
Kristin Jarmund, Norway, Kristin Jarmund Arkitekter
Marcio Kogan, Brazil, Studio mk27
Kengo Kuma, Japan, Kengo Kuma and Associate
Carme Pinós, Spain, Estudio Carme Pinós
Louise Cox, Australia, Professional Organization: International Union of Architects

Many of the Hon. FAIA recipients have had featured work on ArchDaily.  Take a look at Kengo Kuma’s winning design for the new landmark building V&A at Dundee, Kristin Jarmund Arkiteckter’s Gjerdrum Secondary School in Norway, Angelo Bucci’s House in Ubatuba, Marcio Kogan’s Osler House, and the Spain Department Building design by Carme Pinós which will be part of the Vienna University Campus.

A month ago we featured CCCloud, Kengo Kuma‘s first built work of architecture in Italy, completed on September this year. Now, we share with you an interview with Kengo Kuma on his ceramic tiles monument for Casalgrande Padana. Enjoy it!

Kengo Kuma Proposal

Just announced today, Kengo Kuma’s design was chosen for the new landmark building V&A at Dundee.  Kengo Kuma beat out the four other shortlisted designs from Steven Holl Architects, REX, Snøhetta, Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, and Sutherland Hussey Architects.

Kengo Kuma will lead the design team which includes the Scottish firms cre8architecture, Optimised Environments Ltd, and CBA, and the engineering firm Arup.

You can check out our ArchDaily article on all five of the shortlisted designs with photographs and a video here.

Bustler broke the news of Kengo Kuma’s win earlier today.

read more »

Courtesy of Kengo Kuma

In May we presented Kengo Kuma’s CCCWall Installation in anticipation for the now completed CCCloud monument. CCCloud, or Casalgrande Ceramic Cloud, Kengo Kuma’s first built work of architecture in Italy was completed September 2010. The monument, located in the middle of a roundabout in front of Casalgrande Padana‘s Headquarters, is the collaborative result of Kengo Kuma’s team, the University represented by Alfonso Acocella and Luigi Alini, and the authorities of Casalgrande Padana. The monument is remarkably made out of unglazed ceramic tiles that have been adapted for structural use that are produced by the client, Casalgrande Padana.

Read on for more information and images after the break. read more »

© Luxigon - REX proposal

Last month we shared with you the six designs from the shortlisted group for the future Victoria & Albert Museum in Scotland:

Delugan Meissl Associated Architects / Kengo Kuma & Associates / REX / Snøhetta / Steven Holl Architects / Sutherland Hussey Architects

The six designs are now on exhibition at the library of Abertay University on Bell Street in Dundee until November 4th.

We now have more photographs and a short description of each proposal plus a video after the break.

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On the occasion of the Settimana milanese del Design 2010, during which the Japanese architect presented an impressive installation anticipating the new work of architecture, Kengo Kuma himself gave a video-interview on the meaning of the very “CCCWall” (photos here / video here), its conception and tangible character. The image and voice of the Japanese architect allow the viewers to approach the ceramic masterpiece which will be inaugurated in Casalgrande, Reggio Emilia.

A month ago, we told you about CCCWall, an installation realized by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma at the important Milanese Fuorisalone 2010 event. Now, you can see a video of the installation.

© Peppe Maisto

CCCWall is an installation realized by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma at the important Milanese Fuorisalone 2010 event. The installation is an anticipation of Kengo Kuma’s first actual architecture ever done in Italy, currently about to be completed near the headquarters of Casalgrande Padana, in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

More images and architect’s description after the break. read more »

Super star architects arrive to the Caribbean, specifically to Dellis Cay,  a 560-acre island at the Turks & Caicos archipielago. The project, set to be completed by 2010, will feature works by Shigeru Ban, David Chipperfield, Carl Ettensperger, Zaha Hadid, Kengo Kuma, Piero Lissoni, and Chad Oppenheim. In addition to the 124 villas and 154 residences, the island will have a 30,000 sq ft Spa operated by the Mandarin Oriental, a five star luxury hotel, a signature restaurant and numerous casual dining experiences.

Below you can see further images of the individual projects, done by d-box.  There aren´t too many images available, but you can certainly notice the hand of each architect on this projects, specially the Zaha and Chipperfield ones.

From this project, two houses took my attention. First, a house by Chad Oppenheim, pictured above. I really like the public area of this house, which reminds me of contemporary brazilian houses: A unique concrete volume covering the open public space and an enclosed area for the bedrooms. You can really feel outside while being covered by the structure, which has a big span with no elements that block the views.

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