Matter of Relationships – The Architecture of Kengo Kuma
I have never seen architecture as a solitary object. For me, it is always part of something larger—a network of relationships between people, materials, and the environment. This exhibition, Matter of Relationships, offers a glimpse into how those connections take shape through the work of my office.
From the beginning, I have written as much as I have designed. Writing allows me to reflect, to reconsider, to respond to changes in society and the way we build. I believe architecture must remain open to its surroundings—not separate from them. It should invite in light, wind, scent, and the voices of those who use it.
I value softness and ambiguity—qualities that allow a building to gently touch the earth, rather than impose itself upon it. To create spaces that are open and humble is, for me, a way of bringing people closer to nature, and to one another.
This exhibition is not about showcasing complete works. It is about fragments, textures, and moments—each one revealing how architecture can emerge from the relationships between organisms and matter, and between people and place. I hope this experience encourages you to sense architecture not as something to look at, but as something to feel, to walk with, and to be a part of.
Kengo Kuma
Curation：Kristina Bacht (Curator / Director ArchitekturSalon Hamburg), Marcin Sapeta (KKAA), Markus Freiherr von Dellingshausen (KKAA)
※reference: NEWS@KKAA website
※reference: website AIT-ArchitekturSalon Hamburg
