By Gautier Battistella (text) and Éric Martin (photos) for Le Figaro Magazine.
To discover
Travel to Japan: tailor-made tours, hotels and stays from our partners
“
I want to bring chaos to Tokyo. »
The man who expresses himself in these terms in perfect English has the parchment face of those who have not been spared the task.
“Chaos in geometry
,
”
gently explains Kengo Kuma, 69, architect and interplanetary star. Kenzo's house in the Bastille district is him. The Tokyo stadium too, in a joint venture with Taisei Corporation and Azusa Sekkei Ltd.
In his workshop in Aoyama, there are drawing tables everywhere, invaded by scribbled sketches, thoughts in motion. This creative disorder is reassuring: even the oldest children use an eraser and a pencil.
“In Japan of the Edo period
(1600-1868)
, everything was built of wood, and did not exceed three meters in height, the narrow streets encouraged walking, people crossed paths and lived together. From now on, all cities look the same, New York, Shanghai…
This article is reserved for subscribers. You have 95% left to discover.
Flash sale
€4.49/month for 12 months
I ENJOY IT
Already subscribed? Log in