Kengo Kuma & Associates wins Butrint National Park Visitor Center International Competition
27/04/2023.
[Butrint] Albanian
metalocus, ANDRÉS BLANCO
metalocus, ANDRÉS BLANCO
Kengo Kuma was born in Yokohama (Kanagawa, Japan) in 1954. He studied architecture at the University of Tokyo, finishing his degree in 1979. In 1987, he opened the "Spatial Design Studio". In 1990 he founded "Kengo Kuma & Associates" and extend the study to Europe (Paris, France) in 2008. Since 1985 and until 2009, has taught as visiting professor and holder at the universities of Columbia, Keio, Illinois and Tokyo.
Main Awards:
· 2011 The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Art Encouragement Prize for "Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum."
· 2010 Mainichi Art Award for “Nezu Museum.”
· 2009 "Decoration Officier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" (France).
· 2008 Energy Performance + Architecture Award (France). Bois Magazine International Wood Architecture Award (France).
· 2002 Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award (Finland).
· 2001 Togo Murano Award for “Nakagawa-machi Bato Hiroshige Museum.”
· 1997 Architectural Institute of Japan Award for “Noh Stage in the Forest”. First Place, AIA DuPONT Benedictus Award for “Water/Glass” (USA).
Philippe Prost, after dedicating to research for ten years or so, was called for help in 1991 on a 15-year long adventure at the citadel of Belle-Ile-en-Mer. Today, he has gathered a team of about fifteen professionals as passionate and demanding as he is to work with in the long-term.The main features of their work are the respect for the site’s history and geography, a deep analysis of the programme issue, a constructive approach, the choice of sustainable materials, and finally a regular presence on the construction site.
The notions of memory and context are at the root of all the projects they carry on, whether on a large or a small scale. He is professor and president of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville. He has been awarded the Chevalier des arts et des lettres in 2014 and the Prize Equerre by the french group Le moniteur for the Memorial international Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.
In 2009 he was awarded the Prix de l’Equerre d’Argent awarded by the press group Le Moniteur for La Cour des Images, Bourg-lès-Valence. In 2008 he received the Prize for the architecture book for Vauban: the style of intelligence. A reference work for contemporary architecture. In 2004 he received an special mention in the Prix de l’Equerre d’Argent for Zac Réunion (housing), Paris 20th district.
Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects. Founded in 1997 Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects was the creation of long-term architectural partners Ilmari Lahdelma (architect SAFA) and Rainer Mahlamäki (architect SAFA). Previously the pair had been working together for 11 years, both in architecture collective 8Studio and as a practice at Kaira-Lahdelma-Mahlamäki. Since then the company has grown into a team of over 25 employees, both local and international.
They have won over 100 prizes in architecture competitions, which makes LMA one of the most experienced and successful Finnish offices.
Instead of relying on ready-made formulas, LMA creates one-of-a-kind buildings that not only exist as solitary objects but grow into organic elements of their surroundings. The offices works towards understanding not only the location they are designing for but also the people who will be living together with the buildings.