TC Cuadernos No 165/166 Kengo Kuma: Arquitectura Urbana

This double volume of TC Cuadernos explores two decades of Kengo Kuma & Associates' work, focusing on his urban architecture between 2006 and 2024. With a careful selection of projects, the monograph offers a comprehensive overview of the evolution of KKAA and its constant interaction between the rural, explored in TC 158, and the urban.

The work is organized around five key strategies: attract, mimicry, hide, occupy, and organize. These categories reveal how Kuma approaches urban design in complex contexts. Projects such as the V&A Dundee Museum in Scotland and the 1550 Alberni Street Tower in Vancouver exemplify his ability to create architectural landmarks without resorting to traditional monumentalism, prioritizing materiality and environment. On the other hand, the Asakusa Tourist Information Center in Tokyo and the Nezu Museum show how their architecture subtly integrates into the urban landscape.

Kuma is also noted for his ability to conceal or revitalize structures, such as the Z58 Offices and the 1862 Shipyard in Shanghai, where he combines the old and the new in dialogues that enrich the urban fabric. Each project is accompanied by plans and construction details redrawn for the occasion, providing a unique technical vision of the creative process.