Kisho Kurokawa

Kisho Kurokawa (1934-2007) was born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.

He studied architecture at Kyoto University obtaining a bachelor’s degree in 1957, received his master’s degree in architecture in 1959 and a doctorate’s degree in architecture in 1964, both from Tokyo University. Kurokawa practiced architecture under Kenzo Tange’s mentorship in Tange Lab at Tokyo University in the late 1950s. In 1960, he co-founded the Metabolist Movement.

Kurokawa founded his own firm, Kisho Kurokawa Architects & Associates in 1962. Kurokawa architectural work in Japan include Expo ’70 Pavilions –– Takara Beautillion Pavilion, Capsule House in Theme Plaza, and Toshiba Ihi Pavilion, Osaka (1970); Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo (1970); Sony Tower, Osaka (1975); National Museum of Ethnology, Tokyo (1977); National Bunraku Theatre, Osaka (1983); Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art (1988); and Toyota City Stadium, Aichi (2001). Outside Japan, Kurokawa designed the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam (1998); Pacific Tower, Paris (1992); Republic Plaza, Singapore (1995); and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia (1998). Some of the books Kurokawa has written are Purehabu jutaku [プレハブ住宅 (prefabricated living) ] (1960), Toshi dezain [都市デザイン (city design)] (1965), Homo mōbensu [ホモ・モーベンス (homo movens)](1969), Kenchiku ron I,II [建築論I・II (architectural theory I, II)] (1970/1990), Nomado no jidai [ノマドの時代(era of the nomad)](1989), Kenchiku no uta [建築の詩(architectural poetry)] (1993), Kyōsei no shisō [共生の思想(thoughts on shared living)](1991).Exhibitions dedicated to the architect were held at esteemed institutions including, The Art Institute Chicago (1998); Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (1999); Centre Pompidou, Paris (1997); The National Art Center, Tokyo (2007); and Nagoya City Art Museum (2001). His works are in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; and The Art Institute Chicago.

Kurokawa is a recipient of a multitude of awards including, International Architecture Award 2006 for the National Art Center, Tokyo (The Chicago Athenaeum, 2006); 10th Public Building Award Prize, for Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum  (2006); Walpole Medales of Excellence (2005); and International "CITIES Award for Excellence"(2002).