Italy, the root of my pavilions

A symposium with the title KENGO KUMA: Matter as the Spirit of the Project was recently held at Politecnico di Milano (The Polytechnic University of Milan), from which I received an honorary doctorate in 2013. The thing that I wanted to highlight the most during my keynote address was that I was raised and nurtured as an architect in Italy. By participating in the event, I really wanted to directly convey my feelings of appreciation to my fellow cohorts in Italy. In particular, I wanted to express my gratitude to Gilda Bojardi, often called Signora Interni, who has long supported the Interni magazine for years as the editor-in-chief. She was also a speaker at this symposium.

I began to think that architecture consists of materials rather than form starting around the year 2000. However, it is not that easy to do experiments with materials during actual projects. At such times, it was Gilda who asked me if I was interested in doing some small experimental projects. Thanks to this invitation from Gilda and the environment provided in Italy, I completed a number of pavilions and installations using new materials consisting of wood, stone, and cloth, and this resulted in my methods and philosophy becoming widely known around the world. It would not have been possible without their contribution.

The background for this definitely consists of the cultural climate of tolerance and encouraging attitude towards new challenges ever since the renaissance, which has pushed and invigorated experimentation by designers. I think that I most likely would not have taken on new challenges and experiments in this manner if I had remained in Japan.

I was influenced to a great degree by the cross-sectional unrestricted design of architects and designers such as Italy’s Gio Ponti, Bruno Munari and Angelo Mangiarotti. Their paths which freely extended from architecture to small product design cheered me up. There is no doubt that I was raised and nurtured by Italy in many respects, and the discussion this evening made me feel this intense gratitude again from the bottom of my heart.

On the next evening, a tea ceremony hosted by Seiko and Grand Seiko took place in Paris. A one-day, dismountable pavilion I designed, made of wood and bamboo, was set up in the courtyard of the Ritz Paris Hotel to welcome guests from around the world. This was a night when I strongly felt that the various experiments that started in Italy have subsequently spread all over the globe.