Kenzo Makino & Associates

Kyoto, Japan

Vision and Philosophy of Kenzo Makino & Associates

Kenzo Makino & Associates is a renowned Japanese architecture firm known for its refined and poetic approach to design. Its philosophy is based on the harmony between architecture, landscape, and local culture, integrating Japan's construction traditions with the needs of contemporary life. Each project stems from a careful reading of the context, creating spaces that not only serve practical functions but also evoke deep emotions and a strong sense of belonging.

Excellence in Details and Dialogue with Nature

The firm is recognized for its meticulous attention to detail, from material selection to defining spatial solutions that promote continuity between interior and exterior. In works by Kenzo Makino & Associates, nature is not a decorative element but a constant interlocutor: gardens, light, and textures engage with architectural forms to create unique sensory experiences. This ability to blend aesthetics and functionality has established the firm as a reference point in designing high-quality residences and public spaces.

PROJECTS

NIGIN: hospitality as an architectural and sensory experience

Suspended between tradition and modernity, NIGIN overlooks Amanohashidate, one of Japan's most poetic landscapes, transforming hospitality into a contemplative experience. Between light, matter, and landscape, the project engages with nature in a perfect balance of intimacy and openness

Japanese tradition and contemporary fluidity. House in Hanazono

The clients of the House in Hanazono wanted to live in a place that combined traditional environments with fluid spaces to live freely. The architecture conceived for them manages to overcome this apparent contradiction

HOGAN: harmony between Zen gardens and timeless architecture

In the heart of Kyoto, the HOGAN project transforms a historic residence and a cottage nestled in a Zen garden. A harmonious dialogue between tradition and modernity, where architecture and nature blend into a unique sensory experience.

Guest house So-sui. Architecture for an extraordinary experience

In the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, overlooking one of Japan's three most beautiful views, the Nihon Sankei, the guest house So-sui offers a unique spatial experience in architecture that reinterprets tradition and amplifies the sensations of the body and soul

Matsui Archmetal Maizuru: a factory that tells its own story

At a point suspended between industry and poetry, the new Matsui Archmetal Maizuru plant tells the life cycle of metal through an architecture that becomes exhibition, factory, landscape, and memory