Every three years, the mountainous prefecture of Hiroshima transforms into an open-air laboratory – a stage where architecture is more than construction; it is thought, vision, and culture. In 2025, the inaugural Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition will present a dynamic program spanning the Onomichi and Fukuyama areas, the latter bordering the Seto Inland Sea – a landscape so evocative it inspired the event’s logo, designed by none other than Kenya Hara. The theme: Architecture: A New Stance for Tomorrow. More than an exhibition, this emerging festival is a bold statement of intent, taking place from 4 October to 30 November this year.

At its heart is Nine Visions: Japanese Architects from Japan to the World, an exhibition that brings together the nation’s most celebrated architects, all recipients of the prestigious Pritzker Prize: Kenzo Tange, Fumihiko Maki, Tadao Ando, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, Toyo Ito, Shigeru Ban, Arata Isozaki, and Riken Yamamoto. This esteemed lineup will be showcased at the Onomichi City Museum of Art, offering a compelling exploration of why Japan remains one of the world’s foremost incubators of architectural talent.

The exhibition is both a celebration and an investigation of Japan’s architectural DNA – its remarkable ability to evolve while maintaining a deep-rooted connection to its landscape and history. This tribute to architecture unfolds across a network of museums, public spaces, and symbolic sites, including the Fukuyama Museum of Art, the Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens, and the Onomichi City Museum of Art, itself a masterpiece designed by Tadao Ando. The festival aims to provide a multifaceted perspective on architecture, addressing themes ranging from climate change to urban sustainability, from technological innovation to collective memory.

One of the most anticipated projects is the reconstruction of Kenzo Tange’s house, led by the Kambara & Tsuneishi Foundation – established and funded by Tsuneishi Holdings, a major force in shipbuilding and the driving entity behind the Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition. Originally demolished years ago, the house will be rebuilt in Fukuyama in 2027, allowing the public to rediscover one of Japan’s most significant modern architectural landmarks while reflecting on the importance of preservation and historical memory.

The festival does not shy away from experimentation. it i SETOUCHI in Fukuyama will host a section dedicated to visions of the city of the future, featuring projects that explore the challenges of climate change, sustainability, and the integration of new technologies in urban spaces. Additionally, this architectural celebration offers a rare opportunity: access to historic and contemporary buildings typically closed to the public. Private residences, palaces, and architectural gems – normally hidden from view – will open their doors, granting visitors a privileged glimpse into spaces rarely seen. This initiative responds to a growing public desire for deeper engagement, reconnecting communities with their built heritage.

At the helm of this ambitious undertaking is Yoshikuni Shirai, director of the Kambara & Tsuneishi Foundation and professor at Keio University SFC – a figure who seamlessly blends academic rigor with a visionary spirit. He is joined by curator Naotake Maeda, senior researcher at the same foundation and visiting professor at Kyoto Arts and Crafts University, whose keen curatorial approach guides audiences through a compelling architectural narrative.

Yet beyond the architects, projects, and venues, the true protagonist of the exhibition is Hiroshima itself – a city that has experienced its relationship with architecture in a profoundly visceral way. From the trauma of nuclear destruction to its urban renaissance, and now, as a global center for architectural discourse, Hiroshima embodies the very themes this exhibition seeks to explore. On the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, where architecture intertwines with nature and history, this first edition of the Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition is not just an event – it is the beginning of a journey. A vision for the future that, to be truly new, must first learn to reinterpret the past.

Opening image: Riken Yamamoto, Taoyuan Children Art Center ©Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop