TabletStars
Kengo Kuma's Favorite Hotels
Kengo Kuma
Architect
Kengo Kuma was born in 1954. He completed his master’s degree at the University of Tokyo in 1979. From 1985 to 1986, he studied at Columbia University as a Visiting Scholar. He established Kengo Kuma & Associates 1990. He taught at Keio University from 2001 to 2008, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2008, and in 2009, he was installed as Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture, University of Tokyo.
Among Kuma’s major works are the Kirosan Observatory (1995), Water/Glass (1995, received AIA Benedictus Award), Stage in Forest, Toyoma Center for Performance Arts (received 1997 Architectural Institute of Japan Annual Award), Stone Museum (received International Stone Architecture Award 2001), Bato-machi Hiroshige Museum (received The Murano Prize). Recent works include Great Bamboo Wall (2002, Beijing, China), Nagasaki Prefectural Museum (2005, Nagasaki) and the Suntory Museum of Art (2007, Tokyo). A number of large projects are now going on in Europe and China, including an arts center in Besancon City, France, and the development of the Sanlitun District in Beijing, China.
He was awarded the International Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award in 2002 (Finland), International Architecture Awards for the Best New Global Design for “Chokkura Plaza and Shelter” in 2007, and Energy Performance + Architectutre Award in 2008 (France), and in 2009, he was given the title d’Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, from the French Government. Kengo Kuma is also a prolific writer and his books have been translated into English, Chinese and other languages.
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Hospes Maricel
Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
One of the main features after the renovation that impressed me was the well-balanced combination of traditional architecture and contemporary sense.
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Six Senses Hideaway Yaonoi
Phang-Nga, Thailand
Helped by the power of nature and green, the traditional local materials like soil create a totally new landscape, which I found is very dramatic.
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Neri Hotel
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
This hotel is a glimmer in the darkness of Barcelona. The selection of materials like crystal (glass) beads used for making curtains adds to the sparkle. It is very unique to see the contrast between the brightness and the surrounding darkness.
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The Opposite House
Beijing, China
Since I focused on functionality when designing this hotel, it has been the most comfortable place for me in Beijing. It was interesting that the bath we produced, like a Japanese wooden bath but using local materials of China, came out with completely different texture from the Japanese. Please feel the “Culture” in architecture.
Travel stars and their hotel picks:
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CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi
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One of the fastest growing, most innovative airlines in the world
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