Japan, Architecture and Pandemic: Kengo Kuma

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Kyoto, we recommend visiting the Ace Hotel Kyoto located in Shinpuhkan . The latter was built from an old telephone company, and was redesigned by the renowned architect Kengo Kuma , who turned it into a shopping center with a hotel and theater included. And although in words we could think that it is just another commercial complex in the long list of cold and impersonal buildings that usually frame the streets of large cities, in the case of Kengo Kuma ‘s architecture we can find a closer relationship to a ancient temple in the mountains that even glass skyscrapers.

The notorious use of wood, which allows sunlight to pass between its spaces, corners, lines, to create intersections between planes that emanate a dense forest, or in traditional Japanese architecture.

The particular design of Shinpahku is very characteristic of Kengo Kuma architecture , which responds to his constant exploration of the relationship with nature, context and local tradition.

And in a world in which we have rapidly changed our living and working space, the spaces where our connections and interactions happen, due to the coronavirus, Kuma’s artistic philosophy and aesthetic concepts shed light on what it means to prioritize to adaptability and what is familiar to us.

One of Kuma’s core concepts since establishing his firm Kengo Kuma & Associates in 1990 is to create “overdue architecture.” It is a form that seeks humble coexistence with its environment, whether it is a dense urban area or a depopulated rural area.

For Kuma, this is usually done through the study of the Japanese environment and its structural condition as a basis for inspiration and experimentation.

“Japan is a country with many forests and few flat areas. So in such a dense environment, traditional Japanese architecture had to learn to coexist with its environment to create a comfortable space,” said Kuma.

“In addition,” he continued, “the material, in this case wood and its natural characteristics, are something that the Japanese know well and have accumulated a lot of experience in working with it. Since ancient times, they have used the soft and malleable wood to create intimate spaces. For this reason, it is possible to create comfortable spaces with it, even in very dense areas.”

Wood, Kuma’s favorite material, plays a leading role in Shinpuhkan, as well as in other of his large projects, such as the National Stadium of Japan , designed for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics . The National Stadium was conceived as a “living tree”, located on one side of the Meiji Jingu green area, covered by a facade made with wood from the 47 Prefectures of Japan.

For Kuma, the nature of wood represents the familiar and adaptable, but it also represents an optimal flexible material for experimentation. Regarding Shinpuhkan, Kuma mentioned: “We use wood in areas that are close to people, creating a space that offers an innovative experience of the material.” As is evident in Kuma’s designs, the careful choice of placement of each material brings us closer to the comfort of nature.

In addition to his continued emphasis on the material, Kuma points to a broader issue that requires discussion, and that has been brought to the fore by personal experiences in urban life during the pandemic. “In general, before the coronavirus, the urban skyscrapers of the metropolises were the center of society. And in places like these, not only the economic, but also the intellectual, met. These places were thought to be ideal in terms of efficiency. However, this environment was the cause of most of people’s stress.”

Kuma describes how cities before the coronavirus were made up of “boxes” that were stacked on top of each other, an unnatural environment for human beings. A place that did not contribute nor was it designed to be inhabited. “After the arrival of the coronavirus, we have entered a period where the role of the architect in providing a connection between place and people is fundamental. Contrary to previous trends, it is urgent to find new solutions,” said Kuma. With the pandemic increasing interest in remote work and communication technology, the options in how we interact with space have grown. The growing interest in mobilization and transfer of activities that were almost exclusive to the urban area, to the rural and suburban areas, are clear effects of this new relationship with space.

This leads us to ask ourselves what is the new role of the metropolis, its new meaning and function. Even how the relationship between the urban and the rural will change with the change that we ourselves give to our relationship with said spaces. “Since the arrival of the coronavirus, I believe a period has begun in which people will choose “their space”; a space that is suitable for each individual, to work and live. In this sense, the role of the architect connecting the individual with ” “Your place” also began to change rapidly. Each of us will have to decide our individual space. Even people who until now had not paid much attention to these details, will be forced to search with their own eyes and hands.”

In many ways, this can be very liberating. Less emphasis on common values ​​towards urban centers, allowing us to freely explore new places, and redefining what is suitable for oneself. But at the same time, this can be a great challenge, since it pushes us to leave spaces that may not be completely adequate, but comfortable enough to survive and with great social “value.” What awaits us could be not only refreshing, but also “wild”

Kuma’s philosophy is not limited to architectural design, but abounds in the relationship of the individual, community and nature. The better we integrate and coexist, the more familiar our chosen space will be, giving us the necessary means for our development while staying healthy and happy.

The best way to travel within Japan is by train, it is very punctual and convenient, although it can be expensive. For an even better price, we recommend traveling with the Japan Railways universal pass called JR PASS , which you can purchase on their website. This pass is purchased before traveling to Japan , arriving at the airport or at any train station , you can pick up your pass with proof of purchase .