Kengo Kuma on Kadokawa
John Hill
21. January 2022
Photo: Screenshot
NOWNESS presents Energy of the Land, a short film with Kengo Kuma speaking about his geologically inspired design of the Kadokawa Culture Museum in Tokorozawa, not far from Tokyo.
Completed in October 2020, the Tokorozawa Sakura Town Kadokawa Culture Museum is covered in 20,000 pieces of granite in an angular form that appears to "thrust up and through the Musashino plateau," per the architect's website. Rough stone outside, the book-lined interior was designed "as a futuristic labyrinth" inspired by the human brain. Kuma takes us inside the building, explaining his design, but he also expounds on cities, the relationship between buildings and nature, and the future of cities — he says so much the subtitles can barely keep up!
Watch Energy of the Land below or on NOWNESS's website.