A Modern Retrospective of Tradition: A Brief Introduction to Kengo Kuma’s Works and Architectural Ideas

Abstract

Kengo Kuma is an internationally recognized Japanese architect today. His works and architectural thoughts are influenced by Japanese geography and cultural traditions, forming a school of its own in Japanese modern architecture. This paper takes Kengo Kuma as the research subject, combining the development trajectory of Japanese modern architecture for more than 100 years to analyze his architectural ideas and design thinking. Kengo Kuma integrates his understanding of traditional Japanese culture and art into modern architecture, by  Kengo Kuma’s architectural thoughts and practices bring inspiration and enlightenment for Chinese architects as a path to explore connecting modern trends with traditional designs.