Sou Fujimoto on Reinventing the Relationship Between Nature and Architecture

Summary

In this talk, the architect reflects on their journey from growing up in the natural landscapes of Hokkaido, Japan, to studying architecture in the urban chaos of Tokyo. They explore the contrast between nature and urban environments, emphasizing how opposites can coexist in architecture. Key projects, such as the Serpentine Pavilion and a public toilet in Japan, highlight their philosophy of blending simplicity and complexity. The speaker advocates for optimism, creativity, and questioning in design, aiming to harmonize nature with human-built environments and create innovative spaces that transcend boundaries.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker grew up in Hokkaido, Japan, surrounded by nature, which heavily influenced their architectural philosophy.
• 😀 They moved to Tokyo for university, experiencing a stark contrast between the beautiful nature of Hokkaido and the chaotic urban environment of Tokyo.
• 😀 The speaker finds fundamental similarities between nature (forests) and urban spaces (cities), both providing a sense of protection and openness at the human scale.
• 😀 Architecture, in the speaker’s view, should explore the integration of nature and artifacts, combining simplicity with complexity, and openness with protection.
• 😀 The Serpentine Pavilion project in London emphasized the balance between nature and architecture, using steel grids to create a dynamic space with fluid, cloud-like experiences.
• 😀 The integration of various scales in design, from tiny objects to large architectural structures, mirrors the harmony found in nature, such as in forests.
• 😀 A project in the Middle East, a large shopping center with a 100-meter-high tower, explored climate-responsive design, incorporating natural ventilation and sunshades into the structure.
• 😀 The speaker sees unexpected connections between vastly different scales and contexts, such as comparing the Serpentine Pavilion to a massive shopping center project.
• 😀 The speaker designed a public toilet in Japan that integrated public and private spaces, aiming to create an open yet protected environment, which became a tourist attraction due to its innovative design.
• 😀 A library design used the concept of layering to create a labyrinthine experience, offering visitors a forest-like exploration within an urban setting.
• 😀 A housing project in Montpellier aimed to respect traditional Mediterranean lifestyles by designing expansive balconies that blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces, challenging the typical housing typology.
• 😀 A proposal for a floating forest above Paris seeks to create a harmonious contrast between nature and the city, respecting the city's heritage while introducing a new landmark made from nature.

Q & A

What is the significance of the contrast between nature and urban environments in the speaker's architectural philosophy?

The speaker emphasizes that the contrast between the natural environment of Hokkaido and the urban chaos of Tokyo deeply influenced their architectural philosophy. They believe that despite their differences, both environments share fundamental similarities, such as a sense of openness and human scale. This contrast serves as a foundation for exploring the relationship between nature and architecture, focusing on integrating opposing elements in design.

How does the speaker view the role of architecture in relation to nature?

The speaker views architecture as a means to bridge the gap between nature and human-made environments. They suggest that both nature and architecture can coexist harmoniously when designed with attention to scale, openness, and the integration of materials. This idea is explored through projects that mix the natural order with artificial structures, aiming to create spaces that feel both protected and open.

What was the approach to the Serpentine Pavilion project, and how did it reflect the integration of nature and architecture?

The Serpentine Pavilion project aimed to create a space that blends architecture with nature. The design featured thin steel pipes arranged in a grid pattern, creating an open yet protected environment. The pavilion's form was simple and artificial, yet it evoked the soft, dynamic qualities of nature, like clouds. The project explored themes of transparency, opacity, and scale, all within a framework that merged artificial and natural orders.

What is the speaker’s view on the relationship between transparency and opacity in architecture?

The speaker sees transparency and opacity not as fixed qualities but as dynamic experiences. In their designs, these qualities shift depending on the viewer's movement, creating a sense of ever-changing interaction with the space. This dynamic approach allows for a more fluid and experiential quality in architecture, where materials like steel can transform into ephemeral experiences.

How does the speaker view the importance of scale in architectural design?

Scale is a critical concept in the speaker’s work. They believe that architecture should transition seamlessly between different scales, from tiny details to vast landscapes. The integration of various scales, such as those found in nature (e.g., from small leaves to towering trees), is essential to creating harmonious and engaging spaces. This layering of scales provides diversity and complexity while maintaining a unified design.

What lessons did the speaker learn from their Middle East project, and how does it relate to their broader design philosophy?

The speaker’s project in the Middle East involved a large-scale shopping center with a 100-meter-high tower that integrated natural ventilation and sunshading techniques. This project taught them the importance of responding to unique climate conditions and cultural contexts. The experience reinforced their belief that diverse, unexpected conditions inspire creative architectural solutions that challenge preconceived ideas, much like the contrast between the Serpentine Pavilion and the Middle Eastern project.

What role does the concept of public and private play in the design of the public toilet project?

The public toilet project explores the delicate balance between public and private spaces. Although the toilet is open to the public, once inside, it offers a private experience. The design addresses how to provide openness to the surrounding landscape while still ensuring privacy, using natural elements and innovative design to maintain both qualities. This challenge is a fundamental question in architecture, and the project creatively resolves it.

Why did the public toilet project become a tourist attraction, and how did this impact its function?

The public toilet project became a tourist attraction due to its unique design, with people coming from various places to take photos. While this unexpected popularity highlighted the success of the design, it also led to practical challenges. Many visitors treated the toilet as a photo spot rather than using it as intended, prompting the city to address the situation by adding temporary mobile toilets behind the walls, humorously marking a unique intersection of architectural design and public utility.

How does the speaker approach the concept of layering and boundaries in the design of the library project?

The library project aims to blur the boundaries of traditional architecture by creating a continuous, spiraling bookshelf that forms the core of the building. This design, with numerous openings and a labyrinthine quality, invites exploration and curiosity. It reflects the speaker’s interest in creating spaces where boundaries are not rigid, allowing for fluidity and discovery, much like wandering through a forest.

What is the concept behind the floating forest project in Paris, and how does it relate to the city’s architecture?

The floating forest project in Paris was conceived as a way to introduce nature into the urban landscape while respecting the city’s historic architecture and height limitations. The floating forest contrasts with Paris’s iconic landmarks, offering a new, nature-inspired landmark that harmonizes with the city’s traditional beauty. This concept represents the speaker’s philosophy of integrating nature with urban environments, creating a unique dialogue between the two.