SOU FUJIMOTO

The Shiroiya project began in 2014 and it has undergone dramatic changes over the past six years. The concept stemmed from a plan to renovate the main building and open up a large atrium. Once the floors were stripped out, the structure’s powerful presence came to light, revealed after many years. This offered a taste of how the atrium could look, as a plaza for locals and international visitors to mingle. The space seemed capable of holding all kinds of objects and events. The project went ahead with input from worldwide artists and designers, people in the Maebashi area and those involved in community-life generation. Taro Okamoto’s Bell of the Sun was relocated to the city at this time, and that gave rise to the idea of incorporating a hillock in a new building. We hope that Shiroiya will go on developing, together with the entire city of Maebashi, accepting and involving a diversity of people, activities and materials.

SOU FUJIMOTO

SOU FUJIMOTO

Born in Hokkaido in 1971. After graduating from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering at Tokyo University, he established Sou Fujimoto Architects in 2000. After winning the 1st prize at the 2014 International Competition for the Second Folly of Montpellier, France (Arbre Blanc), in 2015, 2017 and 2018, he further became the 1st prize recipient of several international competitions in various European countries. In 2019, he was selected as the Master Architect for Tsuda University Kodaira Campus Master Plan development. In 2020, he was appointed the Expo site design producer for the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka/Kansai Expo). His notable works include “Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013” (2013), “House NA” (2011), “Musashino Art University Museum & Library” (2010), “House N” (2008) and many more.