November 19, 2009
Kengo Kuma: Studies in Organic
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2009 “I want to escape from the abstract and aspire to the organic,” says architect Kengo Kuma. Eschewing abstract formalism and trendy postmodernism, Kuma has dotted the world with structures that take as their inspiration the “tortuous struggle” whereby organic materials attempt to conquer an unforgiving environment to create […]
By Metropolis
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2009
“I want to escape from the abstract and aspire to the organic,” says architect Kengo Kuma. Eschewing abstract formalism and trendy postmodernism, Kuma has dotted the world with structures that take as their inspiration the “tortuous struggle” whereby organic materials attempt to conquer an unforgiving environment to create a living whole. Large-scale models of two ongoing projects—Besancon City Arts and Culture Center in France and Granada Performing Arts Center in Spain (pictured)—are on display at this show, as well as a mock-up of a temporary shelter with an experimental structural system called “Water Branch” that was recently shown at MoMA in New York.
Gallery Ma
Kengo Kuma. Studies in Organic. Various media. Until Dec 19, free. 3F Toto Nogizaka Bldg, 1-24-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3402-1010. Open Tue-Sat 11am-6pm, closed Sun-Mon. Nearest stn: Nogizaka. www.toto.co.jp/gallerma
