Sou Fujimoto

Founder & Principal, Sou Fujimoto Architects, Japan

Sou Fujimoto is Founder & Principal of Sou Fujimoto Architects with offices in Tokyo, Paris and Shenzhen, and is Chair of the Holcim Foundation Awards 2025 jury for Asia Pacific.

He is a renowned Japanese architect known for his innovative and thought-provoking designs that challenge conventional architectural boundaries.

Sou Fujimoto

Sou Fujimoto, Founder & Principal, Sou Fujimoto Architects, Japan. Image: courtesy Sou Fujimoto Architects © David Vintiner.

Sou Fujimoto established his own architectural practice in 2000. His work quickly gained recognition for its unique approach, blending nature, architecture, and human interaction in a harmonious and sometimes provocative manner. His designs often explore the relationship between inside and outside spaces, as well as the boundaries between nature and built environments.

He designed the Serpentine Pavilion in London in 2013. The pavilion, a delicate lattice of white steel, is a prime example of his philosophy of creating spaces that evoke both natural and artificial environments simultaneously. The structure blurs the lines between architecture and nature, creating a transparent, cloud-like space that invites visitors to explore its ambiguous boundaries. Other notable projects include House N in Oita, Japan, a residential project that features a series of nested boxes with varying degrees of openness, and the Musashino Art University Museum & Library, which is characterized by its labyrinthine interior and extensive use of bookshelves as structural elements.

Sou Fujimoto is a frequent lecturer and has taught at various institutions both in Japan and abroad. His work has been exhibited internationally and he has received numerous awards, including the Japan Institute of Architects Grand Prix and the Wallpaper Design Award.

He studied architecture at the University of Tokyo (1994).