Acclaimed Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto's new exhibition presents a series of mesmerizing models at the Japan House London Gallery, held in collaboration with Tokyo’s Toto Gallery. 

The exhibition showcases the architect's not only current projects but also Fujimoto’s architectural experiments for the future asking the visitor to share in imagining a variety of futures of the future.

Image © Japan House London, Sou Fujimoto Futures of the Future - Taiwan Tower

The language of the exhibition is quite simple and pure but sensitively presents all the models with a high level of striking plasticity. The exhibition, titled "Sou Fujimoto: Futures of the Future", has opened on June 22 and will be on view till August 5, 2018 at the Japan House London Gallery.

Image © Japan House London, Sou Fujimoto, acclaimed Japanese architect, inspects Mist Tower, one of 100 exhibits on display in his exhibition Futures of the Future at Japan House London

Fujimoto's exhibition is now presented for the first time in the UK, the exhibition explores the innovative works of one of Japan’s most influential contemporary architects. Fujimoto’s vision of the future is not a fully imagined set of assumptions but is to plant the seeds of inspiration and potential. 

Image © Japan House London. A member of staff at Japan House London inspects Beton Hala Waterfront Centre, one of 100 exhibits on display in the inaugural exhibition, Futures of the Future by acclaimed Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto

Sou Fujimoto is conceived as a leader among Japan’s new generation of architects. Born in Hokkaido in 1971, a graduate of the University of Tokyo, Department of Architecture, Sou Fujimoto established Sou Fujimoto Architects in 2000. Among some of his most notable works include Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013, House NA (2011), Musashino Art University Museum & Library (2010), Final Wooden House (2008) and House N (2008).

Image © Japan House London. A member of staff at Japan House London inspects House in Catalonia, one of 100 exhibits on display in the inaugural exhibition, Futures of the Future by acclaimed Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto

"Creating architecture is like planting seeds of the future," said Sou Fujimoto describing his exhibition. 

"When we design, we pay close attention to the context of the site, the requests of our clients, and the cultural and historical backgrounds of each local community. Our dialogues with a variety of such factors inspire us to create actual places. In other words, it might be the kind of work to give forms to latent possibilities that remain hidden in the real society."

Image © Japan House London. A member of staff at Japan House London inspects Stacked Colours, one of 100 exhibits on display in the inaugural exhibition, Futures of the Future by acclaimed Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto

"Therefore, if what we call future is defined as series of manifestation of possibilities, I would say that small architectural proposals that stimulate them are ‘seeds of the future," Fujimoto added.

"Wishing the seeds that are cast into the future will create another future, I decided the title of this exhibition to be “Futures of the Future.” Inspired by these seeds of open future, I would truly appreciate it if visitors could join us to imagine a variety of futures of the future."

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto Futures of the Future - House before House

In addition, in the shop at Japan House London Fujimoto also presents "Architecture is Everywhere" which illustrates the concept of discovering architecture within the forms of everyday objects: the serendipity of finding numerous possibilities for new architecture. 

"Architecture, I think, is something that is first found and then made," said Fujimoto. 

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto Futures of the Future - Inside Outside Tree

"Just as our ancestors find their habitat in caves and woods, in modern times we discover ours among the many things we encounter in this immense built jungle. And it is a discovery like this that leads us to conceiving new architecture."

"Here at this exhibition I'm presenting this concept of what I call ‘Found Architecture’. By placing scale human figures next to the ordinary objects found in everyday life or in contexts that might first seem coincidental, if not fortuitous, we would soon start to read these objects as architectural spaces. The discrepancy in scale in these pairings is serendipitous, and what lies beyond them is a prelude of new architecture," he added.

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto Futures of the Future - Many small cubes

"Within this concept should underlie the question of discovery by chance vs. creation with intent."

"Architecture could come into being from anywhere. I believe fostering that architecture-to-be into real architecture itself is also architecture. Onward architecture continues," he concluded.

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto Futures of the Future - Multilayer of the louver

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto Futures of the Future - topography

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto Futures of the Future - Tree Building

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto Futures of the Future - Tree Skyscraper

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto Futures of the Future-Mist Tower3

See Fujimoto's  "Architecture is Everywhere" objects displayed at the shop of Japan House London 

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto - Architecture is Everywhere 12

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto - Architecture is Everywhere 20

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto - Architecture is Everywhere 21

Image © Japan House London Sou Fujimoto - Architecture is Everywhere 37

Top image © Lee Mawdsley

> via Japan House London