ARCHITECTS / K

Louis Kahn (1901–1974) was an American architect celebrated for his monumental, geometric structures that blended modernism with timeless materiality. Born in Estonia, he immigrated to the United States and later became a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, shaping architectural education. His masterpieces, including the Salk Institute, Kimbell Art Museum, and National Assembly of Bangladesh, are distinguished by bold forms, expressive light use, and profound spatial organization. Kahn viewed structure and material as carriers of meaning, elevating architecture beyond function. His philosophical approach left a lasting legacy, profoundly influencing generations of architects and redefining 20th-century design principles.

Momoyo Kaijima (born 1969) is a Japanese architect and co-founder of Atelier Bow-Wow, a firm known for its innovative urban research and contextual architecture. Alongside Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, she has developed the concept of "Behaviorology", exploring the interaction between people, buildings, and environments. Her notable works include Pet Architecture, small-scale urban structures that adapt to Tokyo’s dense landscape. Kaijima’s research-driven design philosophy extends into academia, where she has taught at ETH Zurich and Harvard GSD. Through her work, she continues to shape contemporary architecture with a focus on adaptability, urban dynamics, and human-centric design.

Diébédo Francis Kéré (born 1965) is a Burkinabé architect known for his socially and environmentally conscious designs. Educated in Germany, he combines traditional African building techniques with modern engineering to create sustainable, community-driven projects. His Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso, built with local materials and labor, won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Kéré’s work, including the Serpentine Pavilion 2017, emphasizes natural ventilation, resource efficiency, and cultural sensitivity. In 2022, he became the first African architect to win the Pritzker Prize, reinforcing his role as a leader in socially responsible architecture.

Michel de Klerk (1884–1923) was a Dutch architect and key figure in the Amsterdam School, an expressionist movement blending sculpture, brickwork, and social housing. His most famous project, Het Schip, exemplifies his artistic, worker-oriented designs. De Klerk believed architecture should serve the public, integrating craftsmanship and ornamentation into urban planning. His buildings, with dynamic facades and imaginative detailing, challenged modernist rigidity. Despite his short career, his influence on public housing and Dutch architecture remains profound. His work reshaped early 20th-century urbanism, proving that functional housing could also be aesthetically rich and socially progressive.

Florence Knoll (1917–2019) was an American architect and designer who transformed modern office interiors through her “total design” approach. As a key figure at Knoll Associates, she collaborated with architects like Mies van der Rohe and Eero Saarinen, integrating architecture, furniture, and textiles. Her designs, including the Knoll Planning Unit, revolutionized corporate spaces with modular layouts and minimalist aesthetics. Knoll’s influence extended beyond furniture to shaping work environments that balanced function and elegance. Awarded the National Medal of Arts, she redefined workplace design, leaving a lasting legacy in mid-century modernism and contemporary office architecture.

Hans Kollhoff (born 1946) is a German architect known for his traditional, monumental approach to modern architecture. A proponent of critical reconstruction, he advocates for masonry construction and classical urbanism. His notable works include the Potsdamer Platz Tower in Berlin and Lehrter Bahnhof master plan, embracing permanence and craftsmanship. Rejecting modernist ephemerality, Kollhoff’s architecture prioritizes enduring materials and historical continuity. As an educator and theorist, he has influenced contemporary discussions on urban form and sustainable city planning. His work represents a revival of solid, lasting architecture that respects historical urban contexts while adapting to modern needs.

Rem Koolhaas (born 1944) is a Dutch architect, theorist, and urbanist, known for radical, research-driven design. Founder of OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture), he designed landmark projects like CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, Seattle Central Library, and Casa da Música in Portugal. His book Delirious New York (1978) reshaped urban theory, blending fiction and analysis. Awarded the Pritzker Prize (2000), Koolhaas explores globalization, technology, and urban expansion in architecture. His master plans and cultural buildings challenge conventions, merging pragmatism with conceptual depth. Through architecture and writing, he continues redefining contemporary urbanism and architectural discourse.

Leon and Rob Krier are Luxembourg-born architect brothers renowned for their influential work in architecture and urban design. Leon Krier, born in 1946, is known for advocating traditional architecture and urban planning, strongly opposing modernist styles. His work emphasizes human-scale development and classical forms, influencing projects like Poundbury in England. Rob Krier, born in 1938, is also an architect, urban planner, and sculptor, known for integrating art and architecture. He has contributed significantly to postmodern urbanism and authored pivotal texts on spatial design. Together, the Krier brothers have shaped discourse around sustainable and livable cities rooted in historical principles.

Kengo Kuma (born 1954) is a Japanese architect known for his material-driven, nature-integrated designs that blend tradition with contemporary innovation. Founder of Kengo Kuma & Associates, he has designed landmark projects such as the Japan National Stadium, GC Prostho Museum, and Great Bamboo Wall House. Kuma’s work emphasizes natural materials like wood, bamboo, and stone, creating lightweight, fluid spaces that harmonize with their surroundings. A critic of industrial modernism, he advocates for “anti-object” architecture, focusing on tactility and local craftsmanship. Deeply influenced by Japanese vernacular traditions, his work promotes sustainable, site-sensitive design that reconnects architecture with nature.

Anupama Kundoo (born 1967) is an Indian architect recognized for her low-cost, resource-efficient approach to sustainable design. Inspired by vernacular techniques, she integrates traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering to create ecologically responsible architecture. Her notable works include Wall House in Auroville, built using locally sourced materials and participatory construction methods. Kundoo explores alternative materials, emphasizing affordability, resilience, and minimal environmental impact. She has received numerous accolades, including the RIBA Charles Jencks Award (2021). Through her research and practice, she challenges conventional construction methods, proving that architecture can be both innovative and socially transformative, particularly in developing regions.

Kisho Kurokawa (1934–2007) was a Japanese architect and co-founder of Metabolism, a movement envisioning adaptable, organic urbanism that responded to rapid societal change. His most iconic work, the Nakagin Capsule Tower, exemplified his vision of modular, flexible architecture, allowing buildings to evolve over time. Later, he developed the concept of Symbiosis, integrating tradition with futuristic design, as seen in the National Art Center Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Kurokawa’s work blended technology with cultural continuity, redefining Japanese architecture. A prolific theorist, he promoted the coexistence of past and future, inspiring adaptive, sustainable architecture worldwide.