kengo kuma on music as a source of architectural inspiration
For Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, music is closely tied to the way he thinks about space. A longtime admirer and personal friend of Ryuichi Sakamoto, he sees parallels between the composer’s approach to music and his own work in architecture. ‘He created a new image of what an Asian artist could be, crossing boundaries between East and West, tradition and modernity,’ Kengo Kuma tells us. His selections for this edition of designboom listens move between jazz, ambient music, classical compositions, and experimental sounds, with each track offering a different point of entry into his creative practice.
In our weekly series, we explore the music behind creative practice, asking people from different fields what they listen to when they need inspiration, get stuck on a project, or find themselves drawn back to a particular memory. For the architect, these questions lead back to the relationship between sound and space. Reflecting on Brian Eno’s 1/1, from Ambient 1: Music for Airports, he shares: ‘Brian Eno taught me that music can create an environment, rather than simply exist within it,’ an idea he hopes to bring into his own work. Cecil Taylor’s unconventional structures remind him that ‘sometimes we need to destroy existing rules in order to discover something new,’ while Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony echoes his interest in how simple elements come together to form a larger whole. Find out what Kengo Kuma listens to while working, reflecting, and finding inspiration, and tune in to the full playlist below.
a soundtrack for thinking about space
What song best captures your creative practice?
Kengo Kuma (KK): Ryuichi Sakamoto – andata (from async). Ryuichi Sakamoto was also a personal friend of mine. He created a new image of what an Asian artist could be, crossing boundaries between East and West, tradition and modernity. His approach to music has always been a great inspiration to my architecture.
What is the very first track you play to clear the air and get inspired when starting a new project?
KK: Mulatu Astatke – Yèkèrmo Sèw (Homeless Wanderer). I love the unique rhythm and the way different musical traditions come together. It encourages me to think beyond established forms and conventions.
Is there a song that instantly takes you back to a specific memory or place from your past?
KK: Yumi Arai – Hikōki-gumo. This song evokes the landscapes and atmosphere of Japan in my younger days. Music has the power to bring back memories of places that no longer exist.
What song is stuck in your head right now?
KK: Ryuichi Sakamoto – Bibo no Aozora. There is something both delicate and powerful about this melody. It stays with me, like a landscape that continues to exist in one’s memory.
What is your ultimate 2 AM studio track?
KK: Herbie Hancock – Chameleon. The repetitive rhythm creates an incredible energy. I like how a simple pattern can develop into something complex and unpredictable.
What song do you put on when you are stuck and need a breakthrough?
KK: Cecil Taylor – Steps (from Unit Structures). Cecil Taylor completely breaks away from conventional musical structures. His music reminds me that sometimes we need to destroy existing rules in order to discover something new.
What track is dominating your speakers this week, and is it influencing what you are
making right now?
KK: Abdullah Ibrahim – Bra Joe from Kilimanjaro (from African Piano). This music brings back memories of my travels in Africa. I was deeply impressed by the landscapes, the people, and the strong connection between everyday life and nature. His music reminds me of the unique rhythms and atmosphere I experienced there.
What song helps you slow down and focus on the tiny, quiet details?
KK: Brian Eno – 1/1 (from Ambient 1: Music for Airports). Brian Eno taught me that music can create an environment, rather than simply exist within it. This idea has deeply influenced the way I think about space. I want to achieve something similar through architecture, creating an atmosphere rather than just a physical object.
If people were to wear headphones while experiencing your latest work, what one
song should be playing?
KK: Ryuichi Sakamoto – 20220302 – sarabande (from 12). The simplicity and fragility of this piece are deeply moving. I hope my architecture can create a similar experience, where even the smallest elements become meaningful.
What is your favorite album cover art?
KK: Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Original Soundtrack). The visual identity of this album is inseparable from the atmosphere of the film and its music. It shows how an image can carry an entire world of emotions and memories.
What track best describes your favorite project you have worked on so far?
KK: Beethoven – Symphony No. 7, II. Allegretto (NHK Symphony Orchestra). I am fascinated by the way simple, repetitive elements gradually form a powerful structure. This is very close to my approach to architecture, where small pieces come together to create a larger whole.
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