Riken Yamamoto, born in Beijing in 1945 and raised in Yokohama after World War II, is a renowned Japanese architect celebrated for his efforts to foster community through architecture. After founding his practice, Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop, in 1973, he gained international recognition for projects ranging from social housing, such as Hotakubo Housing and Pangyo Housing, to civic landmarks like the Hiroshima Nishi Fire Station and Saitama Prefectural University. Yamamoto’s designs are unified by a modular simplicity, prioritizing functionality and social interaction. In March 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize, praised by jury chair Alejandro Aravena for “blurring boundaries between public and private spaces” and promoting spontaneous social interaction, which brought dignity to everyday life through thoughtful design.
In an insightful interview with Louisiana Channel, Yamamoto reflects on his understanding of architecture, particularly its role in housing, and the connections between spaces and the communities they serve. He stresses that housing is never a solitary structure; it is inherently tied to its surroundings and community. No matter the scale, from large cities to small villages, homes are part of a collective whole. Yet, in the modern urbanized world, especially after the 20th century, this sense of community has become increasingly invisible. People now live in close quarters, such as in apartment complexes, but often lack any meaningful connection with one another.
In this conversation, Yamamoto delves into his personal history and the evolution of his thinking around housing. Influenced by his studies of housing models across cultures and centuries, he advocates for the idea that a home can never exist in isolation. Homes, he argues, should belong to a broader community, one that provides both physical and social support. In pre-modern societies, homes were naturally embedded within the fabric of a community, fostering relationships and mutual support. However, with the advent of 20th-century modern urban planning, many of these connections were lost. Even as people live in proximity to one another, they often remain disconnected.
Yamamoto brings this philosophy to life through his own architectural projects. For example, in his designs for Pangyo Housing, he creates spaces that are open to the public, including areas like workshops or public terraces, where private and public realms meet. This approach challenges the conventional boundaries between the two, allowing for greater interaction between neighbors and the wider community. Similarly, in many European cities, such as Copenhagen, there are emerging residential designs that place greater emphasis on shared public spaces that encourage social interaction. These cities are beginning to rethink the function of housing not only as shelter but as a tool for social cohesion.
Yamamoto highlights the transformation of cities post-World War II, particularly the damage to traditional streets and neighborhoods. In the aftermath, new European-style streets and car-centric city designs took hold, which he now views as a mistake. He reflects on how the widespread belief that cities would revolve around cars led to the urban landscapes we know today—streets designed for traffic, not for human interaction. The consequence, he argues, has been a sense of isolation in modern cities, where even those living in close quarters often experience alienation.
For Yamamoto, the future of architecture is about reclaiming public spaces, prioritizing community ties, and reimagining the way we live together. He suggests that architecture should begin by considering the type of community it serves, focusing on shared environments where social interaction is naturally encouraged. While he acknowledges that past urban planning mistakes—such as Japan's postwar adoption of European models—have led to the current situation, he insists that the solution lies in creating new forms of architecture that bring people together, fostering mutual visibility and reinforcing social bonds.
Yamamoto’s philosophy challenges the very foundations of contemporary urban planning. Rather than focusing solely on the physical structure of housing, he calls for an architecture that nurtures a sense of belonging and community. This idea is also gaining traction in cities across Europe and the U.S. In Copenhagen, for instance, planners are adopting a "walking city" model, where streets and public spaces are designed to promote human interaction rather than car traffic. Similarly, in London, new housing developments are increasingly incorporating shared spaces to enhance social cohesion.
Ultimately, Yamamoto’s message is clear: the future of architecture lies in spaces that do more than just house people—they must encourage connection, build communities, and foster a sense of shared purpose. In his view, architecture should be a catalyst for social interaction, not just a backdrop for daily life. As he puts it, “Architecture should not merely house people, it should create spaces that connect them to one another and to the community.”
This perspective offers valuable lessons for architects and urban planners around the world. In a time when cities are growing more isolated despite being more connected than ever, the focus of architectural design must shift towards fostering meaningful interactions. Yamamoto’s work serves as a reminder that the buildings we create can be powerful tools for shaping not only physical spaces but also the relationships that define us as a society.