Whitestone Gallery Karuizawa proudly presents the large scale exhibition "Kengo Kuma: Landscape Architecture - Hills, Mountains, Forests, and Caves" showcasing to August 31, 2025.

Architect Kengo Kuma's architectural works are categorized into natural landscapes such as "Hills", "Mountains", "Forests", and "Caves". The exhibition features a multi-faceted exploration of his representative works through models, photographs, drawings, and videos.

Erasing Architecture: Inspired by the Natural Landscape

Karuizama New Art Museum

Kengo Kuma began his career with the concept of "erasing architecture." This approach differs from the tradition of showcasing architecture as "forms," which has been a central theme in the works of his predecessors. Instead, he drew inspiration from landscapes, nature, and topography. How can a structure blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings and become part of the scenery? This exhibition serves as a guide to unraveling that exploration.

Karuizawa New Art Museum

The first and second exhibition rooms introduce the "Hills and Mountains" section. This display focuses on architectural works that are distinctive when viewed from the outside, such as looking down from a hilltop or gazing up at cliffs and mountains. Models of projects such as V&A Dundee in Scotland and the Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza at Tokyo University of Science are featured. Observing the models provides a clear understanding of how the structures coexist harmoniously with the surrounding topography.

Karuizawa New Art Museum

Karuizawa New Art Museum

The third and fourth exhibition rooms feature the "Forests and Caves" section, focusing on architectural works designed to be experienced from the inside. The displays include models and materials that allow visitors to explore unique interiors or immerse themselves in spaces with cave-like designs, such as tea rooms resembling caves. Highlights include the Haruki Murakami Library, Whitestone Gallery Taipei, and Whitestone Gallery Beijing 798.

“Forests" section showcases architectural works that blend seamlessly with the surrounding forests, alongside creations made entirely from natural wood, emphasizing the integration of architecture and nature.

A model of the renowned National Stadium, which garnered significant attention, is also on display. The stadium's seats are arranged in a mosaic pattern, designed to evoke the image of leaves falling onto the stands in a forest setting.

In the "Caves" section, the walls are painted black, enhancing the sensation of "entering inside" compared to other sections. Eye-catching displays include models of mobile tea rooms, among many other intriguing exhibits.

Karuizawa New Art Museum

The fifth exhibition room showcases works by Kengo Kuma that extend beyond architecture, including furniture and household appliances. Notable displays include the much-discussed SHARP air purifier. Visitors can even sit on the chairs, allowing for an interactive experience beyond just viewing. Additionally, there is a booth where visitors can explore virtual spaces, offering a dynamic and immersive dimension to the exhibition.

Insights from Kengo Kuma

Kengo Kuma Delivering a Lecture

On November 23, a lecture was held to commemorate the opening of the exhibition. During the talk, Kengo Kuma himself provided insights into the architectural concepts and anecdotes behind the works on display, presenting photographs related to the featured projects. Among the visuals shared were photos of landscapes as seen from within the buildings—favorites of Kuma—that are rarely used in magazines or other media. 

This emphasis on the view from the building, rather than just the building itself, underscored how much importance he places on the relationship between architecture and its surrounding environment. He also shared a story about his dedication to the view from Whitestone Gallery Seoul during its completion, reflecting the consistency of his aesthetic philosophy.

Kengo Kuma Speaking While Presenting Photographs

Kengo Kuma explained that hosting this exhibition in Karuizawa is particularly fitting, given its focus on topography. He introduced works like the Birch Moss Chapel, located in Karuizawa itself, which prominently features birch trees as its main material. He also discussed approaches to creating architecture that harmonizes with its environment, such as structures designed to integrate seamlessly with riverside landscapes, emphasizing the importance of leveraging natural topography in his designs.

The exhibition also marks the debut of the model for one of his latest projects, the UCCA Dune Art Museum in China. Additionally, Kuma shared details about upcoming works, including a monument planned for the upcoming Yokohama Garden Expo. The lecture attracted a full house, offering attendees an enriching experience, complete with a Q&A session and valuable insights directly from the architect.

Comments from Kengo Kuma

Kengo Kuma

"This exhibition holds a special place in my heart, as it marks the first time I have explicitly set 'topography'—a theme I have valued above all others throughout my career—as the central focus. Since I began designing, I have always considered architecture not as 'form' but as 'topography.' This perspective was my response to the work of earlier architects, who often centered their designs around 'form.' My approach started as a kind of antithesis to that. It was around the early 1990s, coinciding with the collapse of Japan's bubble economy, that I first embraced this idea of 'architecture as topography.' Over the past 30 years, I have continuously pursued this concept. This exhibition feels like the culmination of those decades of exploration and an encapsulation of my life's work."

We encourage you to visit and immerse yourself in the exhibition. The architectural works, designed to blend seamlessly with nature, demonstrate how they edge closer to Kengo Kuma's ideal by becoming an integral part of the surrounding landscape."

Exhibition Information

Venue:
Karuizawa New Art Museum Exhibition Rooms 1 to 6 (2nd floor)
Museum Hours of Operation:
10:00-17:00
(Middle July to Middle September until Six O'clock pm)
*Last admission 30 minutes before closing　

Museum Holidays:
Every Monday (in the case of a holiday, the next day)
Temporary closures and openings
Year-end and New Year holidays: 2024/12/29- 2025/1/3 Winter closure: 2025
January Fifteenth to Twenty fourth *Open every day in August

Prices:
Adults: 2,000 yen, High school and college students: 1,000 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 500 yen
*For groups of 20 or more, a 200 yen discount on each of the admission fees listed above will be applied.
*Free for preschoolers and people with disabilities (half price for one accompanying person)

Contact:
Karuizawa New Art Museum Exhibition Section
Tel. 0267-46-8691