Copyright © 2025 Motivate Media Group. All rights reserved.
We adore Kuma’s contemporary approach to Japanese architecture
After Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, and Fumihiko Maki, Kengo Kuma has revitalized Japanese architecture with his distinctive approach. Moving away from the modernist skyscrapers of the 20th century, Kengo Kuma has developed a truly sustainable architecture, deeply rooted in local craftsmanship and resources. His work is characterized by engaging surfaces, innovative structures, and fluid forms that reconnect people with the physicality of their surroundings. Kuma’s designs are informed by tradition and are profoundly site-specific. He prioritizes respecting the culture and environment of each location, which is evident in his diverse portfolio. For instance, he crafted the China Academy of Art’s Folk Art Museum from discarded roof tiles, created a chapel out of birch and moss in Nagano, and collaborated with local artisans to sculpt the V&A Dundee into a reflection of the Scottish coastal cliffs.
Yusuhara Community Market, Japan
His sensitivity to space, light, and texture allows him to reveal unexpected qualities in materials. Kuma finds the weightlessness of stone in Chokkura Plaza and the softness of aluminum in the thatched roof of the Yangcheng Lake Tourist Transportation Center. More recently, Kuma applied his philosophy to the Japan National Stadium built for the Olympic Games, aiming to transform Tokyo from a concrete city to one that respects its natural environment. Kuma hopes the stadium will alter the direction of Japanese architectural design.
Shipyard 1862, Shanghai, China
This XXL-sized monograph, featuring some 500 illustrations, including photographs, sketches, and plans, guides readers through Kuma’s entire career, highlighting milestone projects and ongoing works.
Additionally, an Art Edition is available, featuring a custom-built wooden slipcase and a photogravure of a sketch by Kengo Kuma, signed by the artist and limited to 200 copies.
Whitestone Gallery Taipei, Taiwan
APE Grupo brings Spanish expertise to the Middle East with a flagship showroom designed for visionaries
Influenced by Art Deco design, Supreme by TREDEX now features a striking Matt Bourbon finish
Our cover features Gaggenau, a brand that embodies design for the truly discerning.
Sarita Handa and Kristina Zanic Consultants announce the launch of DEEBAJ, a special-edition textile collection that reinterprets the rich cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia through the artistry of Indian craftsmanship.
Inspired by the philosophy of GABA tea, fermented without air or light, Studio Meshary AlNassar translated this concept into an interior that is hidden, intimate, and layered with sensory detail.
ClayArk opens an expanded showroom showcasing their expansion into sanitary ware
California sunshine and French country charm meet in this 510-square metre house with a dream pool cabana and peaceful garden
Nature-inspired meets future-ready for these sustainable pieces
In the heart of Cairo, an old lecture hall at Ain Shams University turns into a theatre
In Dubai’s ever-evolving real estate landscape, this approach has earned Vedra a reputation for integrity and attention to detail
Designsmith is bringing two award-winning residences to life by ISTO
In an exclusive collaboration with Flokk, the brand continues to raise the bar for healthy and sustainable workplace design