Kiyonori Kikutake (菊竹 清訓) (April 1, 1928 – December 26, 2011) was a prominent Japanese architect known as one of the founders of the Japanese Metabolist group. He was also the tutor and employer of several important Japanese architects, such as Toyo Ito, Shōzō Uchii and Itsuko Hasegawa.

Background

Kikutake was born in 1928 in Kurume, Japan and graduated from Waseda University in 1950.

Career

Kikutake is best known for his "Marine City" project of 1958, which formed part of the Metabolist Manifesto launched at the World Design Conference in Tokyo in 1960 under the leadership of Kenzo Tange. He, along with fellow member Kisho Kurokawa was invited to exhibit work at the "Visionary Architecture" exhibition in New York of 1961, through which the Metabolists gained international recognition. Kikutake continued his practice until his death in 2011, producing several key public buildings throughout Japan, as well as lecturing internationally. He was also the President and then Honorary President of the Japan Institute of Architects. Kikutake often collaborated with the prominent Japanese structural engineer Gengo Matsui. Starting from the early 1950s, they worked together on the design of more than 40 buildings, including on well-known projects like the Nakagin Capsule Tower, Osaka Tower, Toku’un-ji Temple Ossuary, and the Hagi Civic Hall.

Awards

Kikutake was the recipient of numerous awards both in his native Japan and internationally. These include the Japan Academy of Architecture Prize (1970) and the UIA (Union Internationale des Architectes) Auguste Perret Prize (1978).

List of works