Sou Fujimoto discusses the integration of nature into urban spaces and architectural design throughout his projects ranging from Paris to Chiba. Drawing from his background in both rural Japan and Tokyo, Fujimoto doesn’t see nature and the built environment as opposed to forces, but seeks to integrate and learn from the environment as much as possible throughout the design process. Fujimoto’s discusses how his projects take advantage of local climates, which range from expansive balconies in Montpellier to atriums that draw out hot air in the Middle East.

Sou Fujimoto, the founder of Sou Fujimoto Architects in Tokyo, is known for his integration of nature and his light, airy structures. Most notably, Fujimoto was selected to design the 2013 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London, and in 2019, as one of the 23 architects to reinvent Paris.