Archive
I.M. Pei - Museum of Islamic Art
A striking cultural landmark on the Doha waterfront, the museum combines geometric clarity with a serene presence. The approach across the bridge builds anticipation, and the interior reveals carefully framed views, soft light, and refined materials. The composition feels timeless, with a balance of solidity and calm that makes the architecture as memorable as the collection it hosts.
OMA - Qatar National Library
A first visit to Qatar offered the chance to experience this remarkable national library. The architecture is striking from the outside, but the interior is even more impressive, with its vast open floor, subtle terracing, and clear sightlines. Light, scale, and precision come together to create a space that feels both monumental and welcoming — a true landmark for Doha.
RCR Arquitectes -DeKrook Library
While visiting friends in Belgium, the trip included a stop at this remarkable library. The layered façade and warm material palette create a strong architectural identity along the river. During the photoshoot, a group of cyclists passed by at the perfect moment, adding life and scale to the scene. A beautifully executed public building with a calm, contemporary presence.
JDS Architects - La Maison Stephane Hessel
A lively hostel project in Lille, defined by bright colors and an energetic atmosphere. The building brings a playful identity to the neighborhood, with open spaces where people naturally gather. Skaters practicing around the site added movement and life during the visit, highlighting how well the architecture supports a youthful, community-driven environment.
BIG - La Meca
Its bold form has a strong presence along the riverfront. The sweeping frame works beautifully in photographs, catching light in a very cinematic way. Inside, the spaces feel open, varied, and surprisingly intimate despite the scale. The project balances monumentality and accessibility, creating an iconic cultural place for Bordeaux.
Snohetta - Lascaux IV
Lascaux IV sits in a landscape that’s personally meaningful, only a few kilometers from my hometown. The architecture enhances the importance of this heritage site with sensitivity and strength. The building blends into the terrain while creating a clear, inviting route through the exhibits. Seeing such a significant place celebrated through thoughtful contemporary design feels truly special for the region.
MAD Architects - UNIC
A distinctive housing project in the north of Paris, defined by its fluid geometry and stacked, sculptural terraces. The building brings a fresh identity to the neighborhood, offering dynamic views and a strong architectural presence. The design feels both ambitious and approachable, creating an urban living environment that stands out while integrating naturally into its surroundings.
SANAA - The Marechal Fayolle Housing
A visit to Paris offered the chance to see this social housing project set along the edge of a large park. The volumes are beautifully shaped, with soft curves and a quiet presence that blends into the landscape. The design feels precise yet gentle, creating a living environment that is both elegant and understated — a refined approach to housing in the city’s southwest.
Zaha Hadid - Dongdaemun Desin Park & Plaza
A commission in Seoul offered the chance to spend a full day exploring this landmark. The flowing metallic surfaces and continuous curves create a futuristic atmosphere that shifts with the light. Moving through the galleries and outdoor paths reveals an architecture that feels fluid, immersive, and constantly in motion — a unique experience within the city.
Kazuyo Sejima Japan Women's University Library
A beautifully refined university library, shaped by soft lines and a calm atmosphere. The interior feels open and light, with gentle curves guiding movement through the space. The design creates a quiet balance between clarity and warmth, making it an inviting environment for study while showing the subtle elegance characteristic of Sejima’s work.
Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei - Academic Ark
A striking university facility in Gifu, defined by strong geometry and a clear architectural character. The building’s angular forms create dynamic perspectives as you move around it, while the interior maintains a sense of openness and clarity. The project stands out for its confident composition, offering a bold yet functional environment for academic life.
SANAA - Hitachi City Hall
A motorcycle ride to Tochigi led to this beautifully gentle piece of public architecture. The city hall’s open layout and soft transitions reflect an elegant approach to civic space, creating an atmosphere that feels calm and approachable. Light, circulation, and transparency work together to form a public environment that is both refined and welcoming.
Toyo Ito - Taichung Metropolitan Opera House
An imposing façade introduces one of Taichung’s most remarkable buildings, where the fluid geometry continues seamlessly inside. The interior reveals a series of carved, flowing spaces, and the staircase becomes a highlight with its sculptural curves and shifting light. The whole environment feels immersive, turning movement through the opera house into a continuous spatial experience.
Kazuyo Sejima - Osaka Art University Facility
This university facility in Osaka shows an elegant structural clarity that immediately stands out. The lightness of the volumes and the gentle, continuous lines bring a poetic quality typical of Sejima’s work. Walking through the space reveals subtle shifts of light and motion, creating an environment that feels both refined and quietly expressive — architecture at its most delicate.
Kenzo Tange - Yamanashi Press and Broadcast Center
Located in Kofu, this broadcast center stands as a powerful example of postwar Japanese architecture. The structure has a strong presence yet blends naturally with the surrounding landscape and city fabric. The bold forms, elevated volumes, and careful detailing show a masterful balance between monumentality and lightness, making it one of the most compelling works of its era.
Nikken Sekkei - PalaceSide Building
This office building in Tokyo marks the beginning of a new collaboration with Nikken, and revisiting a masterpiece from the 1960s was a strong experience. The façade work is incredibly precise, and the public spaces carry a distinct atmosphere that feels transported from another era. The oval-shaped staircase is a highlight, revealing the elegance and craftsmanship of the original design.
Zaha Hadid Architects - Maxxi Museum
Visiting this museum in Rome during a trip to Italy was the first encounter with a built project by Zaha Hadid, and the experience was unforgettable. The flowing lines, dramatic ramps, and shifting light create a sense of movement throughout the building. Exploring the interiors revealed a space that feels bold yet fluid, offering a powerful setting for contemporary art and architecture.
Toyo Ito - Sendai Mediatheque
A true landmark of contemporary Japanese architecture, the Sendai Mediatheque remains as fresh as ever. Having lived in Sendai, the building carries a personal significance, and returning to photograph it highlighted how timeless the space feels. The transparent structure, floating floors, and iconic tubes create an open, flexible environment that continues to serve as one of the city’s most vibrant public gathering places.
Kengo Kuma - Yugawara Station Square
Yugawara Station Square is a small but beautifully handled project, and finally stopping after passing by so many times was worth it. The timber canopy and gentle rooflines create a welcoming transition between town and train. The space feels warm, open, and carefully detailed, showing how thoughtful design can elevate even a modest station into a calm, characterful public environment.
Nendo - Tenri Station Plaza Cofufun
This playground and public plaza in Tenri is full of life, with soft white forms that create a landscape for people to gather, play, and rest. Visiting during a trip to Nara showed how naturally the space fits into daily activity around the station. The gentle mounds, open areas, and playful geometry make it a welcoming environment that feels both sculptural and relaxed, perfectly suited to community use.