Kengo Kuma
Biography
Kengo Kuma was born in 1954. He established Kengo Kuma & Associates in 1990. He is currently a University Professor and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo after teaching at Keio University and the University of Tokyo. KKAA projects are currently underway in more than 50 countries. Kengo Kuma proposes architecture that opens up new relationships between nature, technology, and human beings. His major publications include Kengo Kuma Onomatopoeia Architecture Grounding (X-Knowledge), Nihon no Kenchiku (Architecture of Japan, Iwanami Shoten), Zen Shigoto (Kengo Kuma – the complete works, Daiwa Shobo), Ten Sen Men (Point Line Plane, Iwanami Shoten), Makeru Kenchiku (Architecture of Defeat, Iwanami Shoten), Shizen na Kenchiku (Natural Architecture, Iwanami Shinsho), Chii-sana Kenchiku (Small Architecture, Iwanami Shinsho) and many others.
Teaching and Professorships
- 2024 –
- Special Invited Professor at Japan Women’s University
- 2020 –
- Special/Honorary Professor at University of Tokyo
(INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION PLATFORM SEKISUI HOUSE – KUMA LAB Advisor) - 2019 –
- Senior Specially Appointed Professor at Waseda University
- 2018 –
- President at Kochi Prefectural Forestry College
- 2014 –
- Visiting Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts
- 2013
- Honorary Ph.D., Politecnico di Milano（Milan, Italy）
- 2009 – 2020
- Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture,
University of Tokyo - 2007 – 2008
- Visiting Professor at the School of Architecture,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Chicago, USA) - 2001 – 2009
- Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University
- 1998 – 1999
- Professor at the Faculty of Environmental Information, Keio University
- 1994
- Lecturer at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation,
Columbia University (New York, USA) - 1985 – 1986
- Visiting Scholar at Graduate School,
Columbia University and Asian Cultural Council (USA)
Main Literary Works
- 2024
- Kengo Kuma Onomatopoeia Architecture Grounding (X-Knowledge)
- 2023
- Nihon no Kenchiku (Architecture of Japan, Iwanami Shoten)
- 2022
- Zen Shigoto (Kengo Kuma – the complete works, Daiwa Shobo)
- Shin-Kenchiku Nyumon (Chikuma Gakugei Bunko)
- 2021
- Kuma no Ne (The Roots of Kuma’s Works –
Ten Last Lectures at the University of Tokyo)
(University of Tokyo Press) - Kenchikuka ni Naritai Kimi he
(For You Who Want to Be an Architect-Worldly Wisdom for 14-Year Olds)
(Kawade Shobo Shinsha, available in Korean) - Kengo Kuma / My Life as an Architect in Tokyo
(Thames & Hudson, original in English and French) - 2020
- Hito no Sumika (Shelters for People) (Shincho Sensho)
- Ten Sen Men (Point Line Plane, Iwanami Shoten, available in English)
- Kuma Kengo ni yoru Kuma Kengo (Kuma Kengo by Kuma Kengo) (Daiwa Shobo)
- Tokyo Tokyo (KADOKAWA, Japanese and English bilingual)
- 2019
- Makeru Kenchiku (paperback edition) (Iwanami Modern Library)
- 2018
- Basho Genron II (Place Principles II)
(Ichigaya Shuppan, available in Chinese) - 2016
- Naze Bokuga Shin Kokuritsu Kyogijo wo Tsukurunoka
(Why did I design the National Stadium?)
(Nikkei BP, available in Chinese) - 2015
- SMALL ARCHITECTURE / NATURAL ARCHITECTURE (AA Publication, English)
- Kengo Kuma Onomatopoeia Architecture (X-Knowledge, available in Chinese and Korean)
- Hiroba (All About “Public Spaces” in Japan)
(Co-authored with Hidenobu Jinnnai / Tankosha) - Kenchikuka, Hashiru (paperback edition) (Shinchosha, available in Chinese and Korean)
- 2014
- Boku no Basho (My Place)
(Daiwa Shobo, available in Chinese and Korean) - 2013
- Chisana Kenchiku (Iwanami Shoten)
- Kenchikuka, Hashiru (Shinchosha)
- 2012
- Taidanshu Tsunagu Kenchiku
(Iwanami Shoten, available in Chinese and Korean) - Nihonjin wa dou sumaubekika?
(co-authored with Takeshi Yorou / Nikkei BP) - Basho Genron (Ichigaya Publishing, available in Chinese)
- 2011
- Shin Mura-ron Tokyo
(co-authored with Yumi Kiyono / Syueisha Shinsho) - 2010
- Kyokai (Tankosha, Japanese / English bilingual)
- Santei Shugi (co-authored with Atsushi Miura / NTT, available in Korean and Traditional Chinese)
- 2009
- Anti-Object (paperback version) (Chikuma Shobo)
- Studies in Organic (TOTO Publishing, Japanese / English bilingual)
- Sozai no Keifu (The Origin of Materials) (Graphicsha)
- 2008
- Shizen na Kenchiku (Natural Architecture)
(Iwanami Shinsho, available in English, French, Chinese, Korean) - Shin Toshi-ron Tokyo
(co-authored with Yumi Kiyono / Syueisha Shinsho) - 2007
- Kengo Kuma : Lecture and Dialogue (INAX)
- 2004
- Kengo Kuma Tokuhon II – 2004 (GA)
- Makeru Kenchiku (Architecture of Defeat)
(Iwanami Shoten, available in English, Chinese, Korean) - 2000
- Anti-Object (Chikuma Shobou, available in English and Chinese)
- 1999
- Kengo Kuma Tokuhon – 1999 (GA)
- 1995
- Kenchiku no Kiki wo Koete (TOTO)
- 1994
- Kenchikuteki Yokubo no Shuen (Shinyousha)
- Shin-Kenchiku Nyumon (Chikuma Shinsho, available in Chinese)
- 1990
- Jutaku-ron (paperback edition) (Chukuma Bunko)
- 1989
- Good-Bye Postmodern －11 American Architects(Kajima Publishing)
- 1989
- Jutaku-ron (To-so Shuppan, available in Chinese)
Awards
- 2024
- The Imperial Prize and the Japan Art Academy Prize for “V&A Dundee”
- 2021
- The Most Influential People of 2021 (Time Magazine)
- 2019
- John D. Rockefeller 3rd Award
- Military Order of Savoy (Cavaliere di Gran Croce) (Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order)
- Medal with Purple Ribbon 2018
- 2018
- AIJ Education Award
- 2016
- “Sustainable Architecture” Global Award
- The 15th Public Buildings Award /
Category of Governmental Building for “City Hall Plaza Aore, Nagaoka” - Iconic Award for “China Academy of Art’s Folk Art Museum”
- 1st Prize, Wooden Architecture Award (France) for “Mont-Blanc Base Camp”
- 2011
- The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize for “Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum”
- 2010
- Decoration Officier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France)
- Mainichi Art Award for “Nezu Museum”
- 2008
- Energy Performance + Architecture Award (France)
- Bois Magazine International Wood Architecture Award (France)
- 2002
- Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award (Finland)
- 2001
- Togo Murano Award for “Nakagawa-machi Bato Hiroshige Museum”
- International Stone Architecture Award (Italy) for “Stone Museum”
- 1997
- Architectural Institute of Japan Award for “Noh Stage in the Forest”
- AIA Benedictus Award (USA) for “Water / Glass”
Major Monographs
- 2021
- KUMA: Kengo Kuma Complete Works 1998-Today (TASCHEN)
- KUMA Kengo WOOD – Materiality of Architecture
(Culture Convenience Club) - Topography（Images Publishing）/ available in Chinese
- 2020
- GA KENGO KUMA 2013-2020 (A.D.A. EDITA Tokyo, Japanese / English bilingual)
- AV Monographs 218-219: Kengo Kuma 2014-2019 (Arquitectura Viva, Spanish / English bilingual)
- 2018
- JA109 Kengo Kuma: A LAB for materials（Shinkenchikusha）/ available in Chinese)
- 2015
- Kengo Kuma : Monograph (List Laboratorio Editoriale)
- 2014
- AV Monographs 167-168 : KENGO KUMA 2000-2014
（Arquitectura Viva） - 2013
- Kengo Kuma Complete Works
（Thames & Hudson Publishers）/2nd Edition(2018) - 2012
- GA KENGO KUMA 2006-2012
(A.D.A EDITA Tokyo, Japanese / English bilingual ) - 2010
- NA Series of Architects 02 Kengo Kuma（Nikkei BP）
- 2009
- KENGO KUMA RECENT PROJECT
(A.D.A EDITA Tokyo, Japanese / English bilingual) - Material Immaterial: The New Work of Kengo Kuma
(Princeton Architectural Press) - 2005
- GA Architect 19 KENGI KUMA
(A.D.A EDITA Tokyo, Japanese / English bilingual) - Kengo Kuma Selected Works（Princeton Architectural Press）