KENGO KUMA

To be honest, sometimes I feel embarrassed by some of my buildings.

KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES

M2

1991 Tokyo, Japan Commercial Built

M2

KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES

PRE

After M2 - the first major project, Kengo Kuma was only commissioned in rural areas of Japan for almost 10 years.

Projects 22 mostly culture

Program Commercial Culture Restaurant

Status Active in rural areas

Awards 5

Publications/Media less than 10

Lectures less than 10

M2

PRE

1988-2002 Selected Events

First major commission

1988

M2 - Mazda showroom completed

1991

Doric building completed The last project of various architectural styles

1992

Lecturer at dapartment of Architecture and Urban Planning, Columbia University , NYC

1994

JCD Design Award `95 Cultural and Public Facilities Category Grand Prize” Kuroyama Observatory “

1995

Won the Boston Society of Architects Unbuilt Architecture Design Award (USA)

1999

International Stone Architecture Award “Museum of Stone” (Italy)

2001

KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES

PROJECT

Mazda Showroom (1991 - 2002) Funeral House (2002 - Present)

PROJECT

The building is now operating as a funeral house after the original owner Mazda sold the building in 2002. The appearance has stayed mostly the same with the new ownership.

M2 Memolead Funeral House Commercial 2-4-27 Kinuta, Setagaya-ku Tokyo, Japan

M2

KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES

PROJECT

M2 with the mix of various architectural styles received strong criticism both from the local and international people.

M2

PROJECT

Building Timeline Selected Events

Kengo Kuma started designing the building.

1988

M2 is completed as an automobile showroom.

1991

Mazda automobile company sold the building to Memolead Tokyo.

2002

The building is still operating as a funeral house.

The appearance has stayed mostly the same.

2020

KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES

POST

“My method is to avoid heroic gestures because you get to a point where the heroics kill the beauty of the material.” - KK. Projects 250+

Program Residential Commercial Culture Sport Others

Status 50+ active projects

Awards 36

Publications/Media 100+

Lectures 100+

M2

POST

2003-Present Selected Events

JR Shibuya station - Facade Renovation: First project in Tokyo after almost 10 years working quietly in the countryside

2003

Energy Performance + Architecture Award (France) LEAF award (commercial category)

2008

Kuma research lab at university of Tokyo was started

2009

Mainichi Art Award for “Nezu Museum”

2010

Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum completed The renowned project for timber structure

2012

JIA Environmental Architecture Award (General Building Category)

2014

“Sustainable Architecture” World Award

2016

RIBA award Tokyo Olympic Stadium 2020

2020

KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES

M2

@kkaa_official 189 post, 142k followers

Instagram August 2016

http://kuma-lab.arch.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/

Kuma Lab U. of Tokyo

https://kkaa.co.jp/

Website

KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES