The World-Acclaimed Architect Kengo Kuma and His Meaningful Challenges

Natural architecture is not simply architecture made from natural materials. It may seem obvious, but architecture with natural materials applied onto concrete is certainly not natural. We perceive something as natural when it exists in a harmonious relationship with its location. It is all about the relationship with nature. Natural architecture is architecture that forms a happy relationship with the place where it is built.

The 20th century saw concrete dominate the world. It was a material that severed the connection between place and material, creating architecture that homogenized nature. However, nature is not just about materials or landscapes—it is neither a utopia nor a dream.

This book explores the stories of designing and conceptualizing materials such as water, stone, wood, bamboo, earth, and paper in ways that align with their specific locations. It delves into the profound relationship between architecture and the environment, advocating for a return to meaningful connections.