Kengo Kuma and Portugal: combining tradition and sustainability in contemporary architecture

Kengo Kuma is one of the leading names in contemporary architecture. His work is renowned for its sensitivity to place, the harmonious integration of architecture and nature, and an innovative approach rooted in the values of sustainability. Over the last few decades, the Japanese architect has developed a language based on lightness, simplicity and the use of local and natural materials. In Portugal, this approach has found fertile ground in several projects, integrating environmental and cultural sensitivity.

Sustainability as an operating concept

One of his most notable projects in Portugal is the redesign of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's Modern Art Centre in Lisbon, in collaboration with landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic. Here, the Japanese concept of engawa, a transitional space between the exterior and interior, is reinterpreted to create a fluid connection between the building, the gardens and the city. The new entrance to the space is marked by an undulating roof covered with Portuguese wooden slats and locally manufactured ceramic tiles, which help to mitigate the heating of the building by reducing the need for air conditioning. The ceramics establish a material and symbolic link with Portuguese tradition and are associated with more sustainable manufacturing methods. The choice of materials, the design of the pergola roof and the redesign of the landscaped accesses demonstrate an integrated approach.

Another particularly noteworthy project by Kengo Kuma & Associates (KKAA) is the Portugal Pavilion at Expo Osaka Kansai 2025 in Japan. This expo is still on till 13 October. The work celebrates not only the meeting of cultures, but also features a lightweight, modular construction designed with a focus on sustainability.

The pavilion consists of 9,972 suspended ropes, weighing a total of approximately 60 tonnes, and recycled nets, which interact with the wind and light. These materials provide an ever-changing environment that evokes the movement of the ocean and, in this way, the presence of the sea in Portuguese culture. This approach, based on natural and reusable elements, allows for efficient dismantling and a significant reduction in the carbon footprint, reflecting a vision consistent with the principles of the circular economy.

In addition to these two emblematic projects, there are other noteworthy projects in Kengo Kuma's relationship with Portugal. The Porto Industrial Slaughterhouse is a project to convert the old slaughterhouse into a cultural and social hub, called M-ODU. It was developed in partnership with the Portuguese studio OODA and stands out for its reuse of original materials from the pre-existing building, enhancing heritage and reducing environmental impact. Among the projects currently under study and development, the tourist and residential complexes in Vilamoura, a coastal luxury resort in the Algarve, and the mountain range Serra da Lousã in central Portugal stand out, the latter with an intervention in the village of Silveira. Here, the use of local materials such as schist and wood will be favoured, integrating the buildings harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. Another innovative project is the collaboration with Portuguese start-up Havelar on an experimental construction initiative using 3D printing technology. Kengo Kuma reimagines buildings as a living part of an ecosystem, embedded in a complex web of environmental, social and cultural relationships. His architecture signals a conscious gesture of connection to place, where sustainability is intrinsic to the identity of the project.