World-renowned Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, born in Hokkaido in 1971, has emerged as a leading voice in contemporary architecture's role in bringing people together during times of global fragmentation. As the design producer for Expo 2025 Osaka and creator of the landmark Grand Ring structure, Fujimoto has spent recent years exploring how architectural spaces can foster connection rather than division in an increasingly polarized world.
Fujimoto's journey to this philosophical approach began when he was appointed design producer for the Osaka World Expo in 2020, five years before its opening. At the time, Japan's creative community was still reeling from debates over Tokyo's new National Stadium for the Olympics, creating hesitation around state-sponsored projects. "Declining the role did not feel right either," Fujimoto explained in a recent interview. "I thought it was important first to reflect on the significance of holding a World Expo today, and to see whether I could find a personal justification for participating."
The architect found his answer in the concept of unity amid division. "The concept of division was increasingly present in discourse, and precisely because the world seemed fragmented, the framework of an Expo—bringing nations together—felt especially meaningful," he noted. This realization aligned with his fundamental belief that "the essence of architecture lies in creating spaces where people gather." For Fujimoto, the Expo represented what architecture should be at its most basic level—a unifying force.
Despite facing considerable criticism before the opening, Fujimoto remained committed to his vision. The Grand Ring, his radical 675-meter diameter circular walkway, became the centerpiece of his architectural philosophy. On opening day, his convictions were validated as he watched visitors stream onto the structure. "People seemed genuinely happy simply to walk along the ring," he observed. "As sunset approached, a vast crowd gathered. Sharing the simple act of observing the sun set together is rare."
The Grand Ring exemplified Fujimoto's evolved understanding of connection within diversity. "From a distance you can spot tiny figures walking along it. Each person is separate, yet a shared consciousness emerges, a subtle sense of connection," he reflected. This moment crystallized his belief that architecture can indeed convey meaningful messages and create spaces where individual autonomy coexists with collective experience.
Fujimoto's architectural philosophy has undergone significant evolution since founding Sou Fujimoto Architects in 2000, following his studies at the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Engineering. After graduation, he spent six years in what he describes as a NEET-like state—"not in education, employment, or training"—using this period to deeply contemplate his relationship with architecture. During this time, he identified four fundamental themes that would guide his work: space and body, city and architecture, interior and exterior, and nature and architecture.
A pivotal moment came with his involvement in the Home for All reconstruction project in Rikuzentakata following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Working alongside renowned architects Toyo Ito, Kumiko Inui, and Akihisa Hirata, Fujimoto initially struggled to find appropriate solutions for the devastated area. "I realized that rather than inventing from our own knowledge or ideas, we needed to listen closely to the local culture, to the lived experience of residents, and to respect the singularity of each site," he explained. This experience taught him that "truly universal architecture" emerges from deep engagement with local contexts.
The 2013 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London marked a culmination of Fujimoto's early explorations, synthesizing his four fundamental themes and representing "more than a decade of work." This project gave him "a sense of liberation" and launched a new phase of international projects that demonstrated remarkable diversity while maintaining consistent underlying principles.
Subsequent international projects showcased Fujimoto's commitment to site-specific design informed by local climate, culture, and lifestyle. In Montpellier, France, the sunny Mediterranean climate inspired bold protruding balconies for the residential complex L'Arbre Blanc (2019). For Budapest's Hungarian House of Music (2021), set within a wooded park, he conceived a concert hall integrated with the forest environment. "Each project emerged from a direct engagement with the site, approached with enjoyment," he noted, adding that the diversity of outcomes might make one think "each building was designed by a different architect."
This site-responsive approach reflects Fujimoto's broader evolution from fragmentation toward connection. While preparing for his exhibition "The Architecture of Sou Fujimoto: Primordial Future Forest" at the Mori Art Museum, he recognized that "while the importance of being fragmented remains, my interest has shifted toward connecting." This philosophical shift represents what he sees as architecture's essential role in contemporary society.
Fujimoto's current projects embody this new direction, particularly a complex currently under construction in Sendai that combines a concert hall with an earthquake memorial near Kokusai Center Station. The building features multiple layers of floating floors connected through sound, designed so that "during commemorative ceremonies, the entire space resonates as one, allowing music and memory to be shared." This project addresses how "emotions and memories of the disaster, different for each person, could be linked" through architectural design.
Looking toward the future, Fujimoto envisions architecture that allows "each individual to exist in their singularity while participating in a society capable of forming gentle, flexible connections." His experience with the World Expo, which brings together over 150 countries and regions, reinforced his belief that architecture can serve as a bridge between diverse perspectives and experiences. The birth of his child around the time of the Expo project intensified his focus on the future, compelling him to "look at least fifty years ahead" and consider what kind of world he wants to leave behind.
Fujimoto's quarter-century career, which his firm recently celebrated as its 25th anniversary, demonstrates architecture's potential to address contemporary challenges of division and fragmentation. From his early psychiatric care center for children in Hokkaido—which provided both intimate retreat spaces and shared connection areas—to the grand scale of the Osaka Expo's Grand Ring, his work consistently explores how built environments can acknowledge individual differences while fostering community bonds.
As global divisions continue to challenge societies worldwide, Fujimoto's architectural philosophy offers a compelling vision for the future. His commitment to creating spaces that honor diversity while enabling gentle connections positions architecture not just as aesthetic expression or functional shelter, but as a vital tool for social healing and unity. Through projects that range from intimate residential complexes to major international exhibitions, Fujimoto continues to demonstrate that thoughtful architectural design can indeed play a crucial role in bringing people together in an age of division.
