On architecture, nature, and the poetic philosophy of Kengo Kuma

particle dance is a cinematic journey through the philosophy and practice of Kengo Kuma, one of Japan’s most influential architects. Filmed over 15 years and across 75 projects worldwide, the documentary offers an intimate and meditative portrait of Kuma’s approach to architecture – rooted in natural materials, sensitivity to place, and a pursuit of harmony between people and nature.

From the main stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to small pavilions for students and the general public, Kuma’s work dissolves the boundary between the built and the organic. Fragmented like a haiku, the film invites the viewer into a quiet reflection on form, fragility, and future.

The screening is introduced by Aya Okamura, expert in Japanese culture and design, in conversation with Tomonori Makita, Japanese engineer and project manager at Henrik Innovation, who contributed to Kengo Kuma’s design of the upcoming Water Culture House on Papirøen in Copenhagen.

A film by Hiromoto Oka,

year: 2025, length: 145 min.

Language: Japanese with English subtitles.