Chemnitz Exhibition Beyond Geometry – Frei Otto x Kengo Kuma –
In Chemnitz, Germany, birthplace of architect Frei Otto and selected as European Capital of Culture 2025, we held a joint exhibition with him. Known for his emphasis on symbiosis with nature and regionalism, as well as his soft-formed membrane structures, Frei Otto’s architectural philosophy resonated strongly with us, and we felt that elements such as his lightness and transparency were also deeply connected to the spirit of Japanese architecture.
The membrane structure of the 1972 Munich Olympic stadium made a particularly strong impression on me when I first began studying architecture, and was one of the inspirations for the 2021 Olympic stadium, which utilizes the soft material of wood. I felt a sense of destiny in this two-person exhibition with him.
The exhibition explored the possibilities of organic forms inspired by nature based on five shared themes: “Connection to Nature,” “Lightness,” “Softness,” “Transparency,” and “Sustainability.
※reference:NEWS@KKAA website
