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EPISODE TWO

Taichi Kuma 2:56

Architect

The modern architect who is building sustainability into the foundation of his work

Parents are often our first inspiration. They are the people who we learn our morals from, who we look to for advice, and who we want to be proud of our actions. Taichi Kuma’s story is no different. As an architect who followed his parents’ career path, one of his first memories of getting into building design is visiting new structures with his mom and dad.

Now designing structures of his own, Taichi is using technology to redefine the principles of architecture. No longer is it about creating permanence, it’s about giving a building the freedom to move, adapt, and connect with the world around it. Here, he provides his tips for challenging the tried and trusted way of doing things.

1. Build on tradition

After the economic crash in Japan in 1991, Taichi’s father lost his job. He may not have known it then, but this was the push he needed to begin his own venture. He founded Kengo Kuma & Associates, an architectural firm that applies master craftsmanship to the production of sustainable materials.

30 years later, Taichi moved back to Japan from New York to work for him, but not without imparting his own learnings. “I try to make new relationships between materials and humans,” explains Taichi. “My father started this legacy by using local materials to build modern architecture, but I want to develop this further by using technology.”

It turns out technology is the major generational difference.
The nearly infinite possibilities that technology now brings were unimaginable when Taichi’s father first became an entrepreneur. To maintain integrity, Taichi believes it’s about applying these modern techniques in a way that is gentle to the environment and respectful of tradition.

2. Finesse the supply chain

“We can use computers to simulate the experience and see the possibilities and the limitations of an architectural component,” says Taichi. This means using technology to predict how a building will look and feel. How will a softer material work in an office space? How can a house blend in seamlessly with its environment?

With this foresight, you can then finesse the supply chain to create a more sustainable process. For instance, Taichi prefers to work with local materials that hold their own knowledge of an area. When that’s not possible, he leans on the power of technology – whether it’s to find responsible suppliers or to trace the source of materials.

Traceability is the measure of a successful supply chain. Without it, you can never be entirely sure where your materials come from or what their environmental impact may be.

3.Refuse sustainability as a buzzword

The trailer house by Taichi Kuma

To Taichi, sustainability is about changing the relationship between people and life’s “truths.” A building doesn’t have to be made from concrete or steel to achieve structural integrity; it could be made from lighter, softer materials like carbon fiber. Just as durable but requiring less man- and machine power, it has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of a build.

Nor does a building have to be a fixed entity. “I'm now designing a trailer house made from a membrane, which is in a way an extension of a camping tent,” reveals Taichi. His vision is a home that is light enough to be moved anywhere, giving people the opportunity to choose their environment based on how they feel at any moment.

This innovation marks the future of architecture, where homes don’t just nurture our human desire to belong, but our ability to adapt too. Imagine a wall that naturally connects to the outside, so it keeps you warm in the winter, lets in the light in the summer, and carries the reassuring sound of family and friends. It is features like these that can have a positive impact on a person’s mental well-being – and that are being made possible by sustainability pioneers like Taichi.

4. Future-proof your business

Great architecture goes against the grain, which is why “I always want to be on the parameters of whatever I design,” admits Taichi. The challenge comes in making sure it strikes the same connection with people in the future as it does now. After all, buildings are real, tangible structures; they should work with the real and evolving world around them.

One of Taichi’s greatest architectural inspirations is a case in point: the Mannheim Multihalle is a timber lattice roof structure, designed by German architects Frei Otto, Carlfried Mutschler, and Joachim Langner in 1975. Taichi admires its “complex geometric form” and the fact that “there’s no substructure,” which is perhaps why it is still loved by the public today.

This is what Taichi aims for in his work – a familiarity, accessibility, or beauty that will evoke emotion in people for years to come.

5.Never stop learning

As a bridge across time, architecture exists in the present, reflects on the past, and looks to the future. Such omnipresence means “we need to keep learning from past buildings and past architects,” says Taichi. “In my case, I'm still learning from my parents who are my mentors.” But his path toward academia truly began when studying in Germany.

It was here that he was first encouraged to disrupt the conventions of architecture. Suddenly, inspiration could come from anywhere, whether it was the structure of a beetle or the constellations of the stars. And elements could materialize as anything, whether it was carbon as a tool or a robot as an architect.

The key to any form of education is to be open to new ideas, no matter who they’re from. As Taichi understands it, there’s not one person who knows how to do everything; by coming together, you can learn from each other and make something better. Close yourself off and you may miss out on opportunities.

From his parents’ musings and academic learnings to the world’s complexities, Taichi channels every life experience into his building designs. They are the pieces of the puzzle that have led to his self-awareness, allowing him to empower sustainable connections with architecture and to leave sustainable impressions on his surroundings. Taichi trusts that when you understand yourself and why you do what you do, everything falls into place a lot easier – the journey almost becomes part of the destination.

You can hear more from Taichi Kuma on our podcast

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