Asian Cultural Council — East-West Dialogue: Kengo Kuma's Vision of Architecture Beyond 2020

In this year's East-West Dialogue, Kengo Kuma shared his recent projects and dynamic vision beyond 2020 through his holistic approach in creating architecture in harmony with the environment towards a new quality of living. Kuma discussed his project and how it related to the importance of cultural exchange. He spoke of his 1985 ACC Fellowship in New York where he experienced, for the first time, his need to share his culture with others; he typically took Japanese traditions for granted. So, he held a tea ceremony in and invited his New York new friends to share this experience and learn about traditions that were important to him and to Japanese people.

World-renowned architect Kengo Kuma received an ACC Fellowship in 1985 to serve as a visiting scholar at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture and Planning. His work takes inspiration from nature and natural materials in a modernistic approach that explores the recovery and revitalization of the traditional aesthetics of Japanese architecture. The New National Stadium in Tokyo, was also on view in Japan Society's exhibition, Made in Tokyo: Architecture and Living, 1964/2020.

In celebration and support of its mission, the Asian Cultural Council held its 2019 NYC Gala on Wednesday, November 13, 2019. The gala honored Kengo Kuma with the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Award and leading philanthropist and ACC Chairman Emeritus Elizabeth J. McCormack with the Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Award.

If you missed Kengo Kuma's East-West Dialogue, see the video here!

This year's East-West Dialogue was co-organized and co-presented by Asian Cultural Council and Japan Society.

^{Kengo Kuma, ACC Trustee Kazuko Aso, ACC Executive Director Miho Walsh, and Japan Society Gallery Director Yukie Kamiya at Kuma's exhibition at the Japan Society}