Kengo Kuma: Architecture in Dialogue

With this exhibition, the Folon Foundation offers an immersive exploration of a body of work in which architecture becomes a form of expression, echoing the concerns central to Jean-Michel Folon. Through this original perspective, the exhibition examines the human condition, the tensions of the contemporary world, and the search for a more harmonious future.

Renowned for his lightness and subtlety, Kengo Kuma develops an architectural approach rooted in dialogue—between nature, materials, and forms. His works, often discreet and seamlessly integrated into their surroundings, seek to restore a sense of connection between individuals and the world around them.

At the crossroads of art and reflection, the exhibition invites visitors to rethink how we build and inhabit spaces. It questions the relationship between progress and belonging in societies where technological development can sometimes distance us from the places we truly call home.

Born in 1954 in Yokohama, Kengo Kuma founded KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES in Tokyo in 1990. Inspired by traditional Japanese architecture, he combines innovation with natural materials and local craftsmanship. A leading figure in contemporary architecture, he has received numerous international awards, including the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture in 2016, and was named Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters. An emeritus professor at the University of Tokyo, he currently leads projects in more than 50 countries.

Among his most iconic works are the Victoria & Albert Museum in Dundee (2018), the Japan National Stadium designed for the Tokyo Olympic Games (2020), and, more recently, the Saint-Denis Pleyel station developed for the Paris Olympic Games (2024).

This exhibition is part of the “160 Years of Friendship between Japan and Belgium” programme, in collaboration with Kengo Kuma & Associates, the Embassy of Japan in Belgium, Nihonjinkai, the Japanese Association of Belgium, and Wallonia-Brussels International.