Sou Fujimoto

Japanese architect (born 1971)

Sou Fujimoto

藤本 壮介

(2009)

Born| 1971 (age 53-54)

Hokkaido, Japan

Nationality| Japanese
Alma mater| University of Tokyo École Spéciale d'Architecture
Occupation| Architect
Organization| Sou Fujimoto Architects
Website| www.sou-fujimoto.net

Sou Fujimoto (藤本 壮介, Fujimoto Sōsuke; born 1971) is a Japanese architect.

## Early life and education

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Born in Hokkaido in 1971,[1] he graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1994, and established his own office, Sou Fujimoto Architects, in 2000.[2]

The Grand Ring, Osaka Expo 2025

## Career

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After establishing Sou Fujimoto Architects in 2000, Fujimoto went on to design buildings across Japan and Europe.[3] Many of his designs are built around his idea that the function of a building is decided by human behavior.[4] In 2019, Fujimoto was selected as one of 23 architects to "reinvent" Paris.[5] His contributions to this project include a redesign of a plot in the 17th arrondissement of Paris.[5]He will chair the Holcim Foundation Awards 2025 jury for region Asia Pacific.[6]

Noted for delicate light structures and permeable enclosures, Fujimoto designed several houses, and in 2013, was selected to design the temporary Serpentine Gallery pavilion in London.[7] In 2021, Fujimoto received the master's degree from l’École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris.[8]

Fujimoto published a book in 2008 called Sou Fujimoto: Primitive Future.[9] It contains an overview of his projects up to that date, and it explains his concept of primitive future and how he uses it in his work.[9][10]

## Selected works

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* Final Wooden House, Kumamoto, 2005–08
* Children's Centre for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Hokkaido, Japan, 2006[11]
* T House, Gunma, Japan, 2006–2010[11]
* N House, Oita, 2008[12]
* House before House, Utsunomiya, 2009[13]
* Tokyo Apartment, Tabashi-ku, Tokyo, 2006–10[14]
* Musashino Art University Museum and Library, Tokyo, Japan, 2010[15]
* Toilet in Nature, Chiba, Japan, 2012[11]
* House K, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan, 2011–2013[16]
* Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, London, 2013[17]
* Bus Stop in Krumbach, Austria, 2014[18]
* Naoshima Pavilion, Naoshima, Kagawa, Japan, 2016 [19]
* L'Arbre Blanc, Montpellier, France, 2017 (est.)[20][21]
* House of Hungarian Music, Budapest, Hungary, 2022[11][22]
* Mille Arbres (A Thousand Trees), Paris, France, 2016–2023 (est.)[11]
* Grand Ring, Osaka, Japan.[23][24]

* Final Wooden House

* N House

* House before House, Utsunomiya

* Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, London

* House of Hungarian Music, Budapest

## Awards

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* JIA New Face Award, 2004[10]
* International Design Competition for the Environment Art Forum, 1st Prize, 2004[10]
* Wooden House Competition, Kumamoto, 1st Prize, 2005[10]
* Architectural Review Award Grand Prize, 2006[25]
*   * Kenneth F. Brown Architecture Design Award, 2007[10]
* Japanese Institute of Architecture Grand Prize, 2008[10]
* Wallpaper Design Award, 2009[25]
* Taiwan Tower International Competition: First Prize, 2011 [26]
* Marcus Prize for Architecture, 2013[25]
* Kyoto Global Design Awards Best100, 2023[27]

## References

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1. ^ "Exclusive interview: Sou Fujimoto". Gaku-gei Cafe (in Japanese). Studio OJMM. January 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
2. ^ El Croquis Nr.151: Sou Fujimoto 2003–2010 Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ "Sou Fujimoto | Japanese architect". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
4. ^ "Biography of the architect: Sou Fujimoto". Floornature.com (in Italian). Retrieved 20 November 2019.
5. ^ a b Zollinger, Daniel (4 February 2016). "sou fujimoto among 23 architects chosen to 'reinvent' paris". Designboom. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
6. ^ "Holcim Foundation Awards 2025". Architects Journal. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
7. ^ Wainwright, Oliver (18 February 2013). "Sou Fujimoto's Serpentine pavilion promises a breath of fresh air". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
8. ^ "Sou Fujimoto, Des espaces pour les hommes – École Spéciale d'Architecture". www.esa-paris.fr. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
9. ^ a b "Sou Fujimoto: Primitive Future". Designers & Books. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
10. ^ a b c d e f "Sou Fujimoto Architect | Biography, Buildings, Projects and Facts". Famous Architects. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
11. ^ a b c d e "Who is Sou Fujimoto?". Japan House London. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
12. ^ de zeen magazine, 19 January 2012
13. ^ Detail nr. "»House before House« in Utsunomiya", 2009
14. ^ El Croquis Nr.151: "Tokyo Apartment" Archived 2012-02-03 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 26 February 2013
15. ^ "Sou Fujimoto Architect | Biography, Buildings, Projects and Facts". Famous Architects. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
16. ^ "Complementary opposites". domusweb.it. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
17. ^ Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013 by Sou Fujimoto, 20 October 2013
18. ^ "Bus Stop Krumbach Projekt Info". Gemeinde Krumbach (in German). Retrieved 26 June 2018.
19. ^ Setouchi Triennale 2016 Artwork No. 005 Naoshima Pavilion, 28 September 2016
20. ^ Karissa Rosenfield. Sou Fujimoto-Led Team Designs Tree-Inspired Housing Tower for Montpellier. ArchDaily, 7 March 2014
21. ^ Focus Magazine. L’Arbre blanc à Montpellier. Focus Magazine, Montpellier (in French)
22. ^ "Sou Fujimoto's House of Music in Hungary Opens to the Public". 24 January 2022.
23. ^ "Architect Sou Fujimoto: Expo 2025 is 'a precious opportunity to come together'". CNN. 11 April 2025.
24. ^ Fukue, Natsuko (1 January 2025). "Architect Sou Fujimoto says his 'Grand Ring' will be a symbol of unity at the Osaka Expo". The Japan Times. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
25. ^ a b c "Sou Fujimoto". Swiss Architectural Award. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
26. ^ "Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects". 5 December 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
27. ^ "Unveiling design excellence: the 2023 recipients of the Kyoto Global Design Awards". 18 October 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2024.

## External links

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* Official website

Authority control databases

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* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
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Academics|

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