Key Facts
• July 1, 2025: Kengo Kuma unveils his first factory exterior design.
• Theme: “Harmony with Nature” featuring warm wood tones and smooth curves.
• Location: Fukushima City, near Michi-no-Eki Fukushima and Fukushima Ozaso IC.
• Factory: 20,000 square meters, consolidating two older facilities from Shirakawa City and Yamagata Prefecture.
• Client: Tohoku Nitto Kohki, specializing in machine tools and construction equipment.
• Collaboration: Inspired by Kuma’s 50-year friendship with company president Akimasa Ogata.
• Materials: Locally sourced cedar from Fukushima used for the eaves.
• Design: Curved structure blending with Ozaso’s mountain landscape.
• Workforce: Factory employs 200 people and began operations on July 1, 2025.
Summary
Kengo Kuma, a globally acclaimed architect known for projects like the National Stadium and Osaka Expo Pavilion, has designed his first factory exterior in Fukushima City. The project, commissioned by Tohoku Nitto Kohki, reflects the theme of “Harmony with Nature” through its use of local cedar and curved design that integrates with the surrounding mountain landscape. This collaboration was inspired by Kuma’s 50-year friendship with the company’s president, Akimasa Ogata. The 20,000-square-meter facility consolidates two older factories and features state-of-the-art equipment. Officially operational as of July 1, 2025, the factory employs 200 workers and aims to provide a comfortable and inspiring workspace.
