Home > blog > poetry in the details

poetry in the details


I recently had the pleasure of meeting one of the best living architects, Kengo Kuma. His work has such a simple elegance, using modest materials in unique ways to create spatial poetry. Whether it be using bamboo structurally while it feels like it disappears, stone panels that seem to float, ephemeral structures using blow-up walls with integrated LED lights, or angled stone that provides strength as well as natural ventilation.
Rather than being dependent on technology, his work is a wonderful example of sustainable architecture that implements the best strategies from the past.

Great Bamboo Wall House
Inn at Ganzan Onsen (hot springs) district of Yamagata
Chokkura Plaza in Shioya-gun, Tochigi
Chokkura Plaza in Shioya-gun, Tochigi
Tea House in Frankfurt

This entry was posted on Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 5:00 am and is filed under blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

4 Responses to “poetry in the details”

  1. Daniel Gregory says:
    July 19, 2010 at 9:04 am

    Supremely elegant and compelling work. The nurture of geometry in nature. Thanks, Michelle for bringing Kengo Kuma’s work to my attention.

  2. Steven Holmes says:
    July 20, 2010 at 9:02 am

    Kengo’s work revealed here is striking and natural. There is a warmth to the work that is inspiring. Its interesting that many (including myself) get caught up in thinking of green / sustainable design in technological terms. Material science is important these days, but this kind of design certainly can be modern and sustainable though it looks to the past for some of its structure, form and inspiration. Cool Michelle!

  3. Liz Gebhardt says:
    July 20, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    Love the warmth of the wood and seemless connection of inside to the outside world .. so zen and serene

  4. Doug Johnson says:
    July 21, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    Inspiring & coherent! Thank you for making me aware of his work…

Leave a Reply