Sou Fujimoto é um arquitecto japonês que tem vindo a desenvolver aquilo a que chamamos "casa" para alem dos aspectos formais, introduzindo desta forma novas tipologias do "viver". Nasceu a 4 de Agosto, 1971, em Hokkaido, Japão.
Em 1994 formou-se no Departamento de Arquitectura da Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade de Tokyo. Após a licenciatura, Fujimoto estabeleceu-se profissionalmente, criando o Atelier Sou Fujimoto Architects em Tokyo no ano 2000. Fujimoto tem também vindo a dar aulas na Universidade de Ciências de Tokyo desde 2001, Universidade de Tokyo e Showa Women’s University desde 2004, assim como na Universidade de Kyoto desde 2007. Para mais pormenores em relação à formação deste jovem arquitecto, recomendo a compra do livro Nº50 da colecção 2G, que contem também o artigo de pesquisa do próprio, “Nexus, Futuro Primitivo”. A pedido posso vir a mostrar pormenores desde mesmo trabalho, que digo desde já ser uma reflexão interessante sobre a origem do lar e de outros conceitos relacionados com a teoria da arquitectura.
No site DesignBoom, está publicada uma entrevista da qual selecionei os conteudos mais interessantes. Fujimoto fala também um pouco do seu trabalho.
What is the best moment of the day?
Morning, I'd say, except when it rains (laughs).I usually wake up early rather than late, and mornings are very precious for me. I like the beginning of everything. The morning is the beginning of a day and I like to think of it as the beginning of architecture.
Do you read design / architecture magazines?
I don't read them in detail, I just take a look. Mostly japanese but also international magazines. Recently my studio subscribed to domus, architectural review and architectural record.
When you were a child, did you want to become a architect?
I grew up in hokkaido, in the northern part of japan, surrounded by nature and I enjoyed just playing in the forest. I didn't think about any future of mine. My hero was albert einstein, so originally I wanted to be a physicist like him, I was interested in the physical aspects of
our world. now I find many similarities in the research and practice in both fields, architecture and physics. My first experience with architecture was with antonio gaudi (through reading a book about him).
Where do you work on your designs and projects?
Mainly in the office because my work is not only done by me. I collaborate with my staff through discussions and models, but when I want to focus on something I prefer to be alone. In that case I work at home or in a starbucks cafe.
Do you discuss your work with other architects?
Sometimes. For example with toyo ito and kazuyo sejima, ... but we don't discuss, we chat.
Describe your style, like a good friend of yours would describe it.
I call it 'primitive future'. A sort of primitive situation that relates to the human 'cave' habitation but at the same time I like to create somethingnew for the future.
I recently gave a lecture 'cave or nest', the two embryonic states of architecture.
A 'nest' is a place for people that is very well prepared, everything is assembled and very functional, meanwhile the 'cave' is just a raw space, which people need to explore and find their own comfort within. this is a situation where people can use space creatively.
I prefer something like the cave-like-unintentional space. Something that is in between nature and artifact – formless form.
Formless form?
Space is relationships and architecture generates various senses of distances.
I'm very optimistic and see architecture as something between living together and independently. there are many degrees of interaction amongst people.
to construct a wall is to bisect a space into 0 and 1, however a space must have intrinsically many graduations between 0 and 1. I like to create an in-between-space, therefore my
works are very basic (I've designed architecture that is very simple but looks complex due to its geometric form).
Please describe an evolution in your work, from your first projects to the present day.
The projects are becoming bigger because I get the chance to do more prestigious work, but I don't want to limit myself just to expensive things. Sometimes with private projects that are
low-budget I have more possibilities.
What project has given you the most satisfaction?
There are two low-budget projects that I have just recently finished. One is named house N which is a very simple box house. An outdoor space that feels like the indoors and an indoor space that feels like the outdoors. I think we were successful in creating a space between the house and city. My ideal is architecture too be roofless and garden-like.
The other project is called 'final wooden house'. We stacked wooden blocks together to create a very small house, in which there are no categorization of floors, walls, and ceilings. Because floor levels are relative people reinterpret the spatiality according to where they are. It was a big challenge for us, as we needed to consider if there was enough space for people (laughs).
Did you modify your buildings a lot during development, because the client wanted something different?
I like to answer to the clients request as much as possible, but I do not see it as compromises. I react with a more creative development. Of course clients always have an idea of what they want and some site specific concerns but at the same time they like to have something unexpected or something beyond their imagination. Many clients want a new lifestyle through a new style of house. I propose something beyond their request and if they like the idea, the project will start. If they don't like the project at all it will stop.fortunately our idea, our scheme is a flexible one. The basic scheme is very strong but it can adapt while still remaining strong.
Is there any architect from the past, you appreciate a lot?
louis kahn, le corbusier, mies van der rohe... and of course michelangelo. I also like the architecture designed by nobody, for example gothic cathedrals.
And those still working / contemporary architects?
I love frank gehry because his architecture is like a second nature,like a jungle. Something beyond artificial things, it's amazing.
What are you afraid of regarding the future?
I think I we have to be very serious about the change in climate and the situation of nature. I think that it is a great opportunity for us to rethink about the modern age culture of controlling everything. We have to change that kind of whole super controlling situation.for example air conditioning - when we use it we close and shut out nature and we are limited in the space
we have. The artificial machine of the air conditioning is controlling our space and separating each other. Instead we might be able to live together and use a kind of natural power to create a more comfortable space. Humans should adapt a bit more, rather than control.
Bibliografia: 2G, nº 50, Sou Fujimoto | DesignBoom |
O arquitecto japonês Sou Fujimoto, esteve no Porto a 18 de Fevereiro de 2009 para participar no ciclo sobre "Cinema e Arquitectura" que o 29º Fantasporto organiza conjuntamente com a Secção Regional do Norte da Ordem dos Arquitectos, no âmbito do qual proferiu uma conferência sobre "As Ruínas do Futuro". Fujimoto, qualifica o seu trabalho como "arquitectura primitiva do futuro", porque procura criar espaços que funcionam como cavernas ou ninhos - os dois estados embrionários da arquitectura - mas onde tudo está concebido de forma muito funcional e onde, ao mesmo tempo, as pessoas possam usar o espaço de forma criativa". 
