keynote lecture TRANSFORMATIVE ARCHITECTURE by Yuko Nagayama at the IASS-IWSS symposium

From 14 till 18 September 2026 the IASS-IWSS symposium took place in Torino, https://www.iass-iwss2026.org/. 

There was an interesting keynote lecture TRANSFORMATIVE ARCHITECTURE by Yuko Nagayama 

“The structural materials and membrane from the facade of the Japan Pavilion at the Dubai Expo were reused for the Women’s Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.  They will be further reused for GREEN × EXPO 2027 in Yokohama.  Throughout this process, these materials have been repurposed at each location to fit the site layout, scale, and intended use.  I call this ongoing initiative ‘Transformative Architecture’ ...  Additionally, I would like to talk about architecture using membrane materials, which enables lightweight structures that can be dismantled and relocated. This is another form of ‘Transformative Architecture’.  Through these examples, I hope to share a new vision for architecture made possible by these structural systems and materials.”  

For more information on this project, see TensiNet DATABASE - link

About the Speaker Born in 1975, Yuko Nagayama established Yuko Nagayama & Associates in 2002 after working at Jun Aoki & Associates. Her representative works include Teshima Yokoo House, the Japan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, and two pavilions for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai — the Women’s Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier and the Panasonic Group Pavilion “The Land of NOMO”. Her awards include the JIA Young Architect Award (2014), Yamanashi Cultural Prize of Architecture (2017), Tokyo Architecture Award Excellent Award (2018), Design Award for Light and Lighting Grand Prize (2021), World Architecture Festival Highly Commended (2022), Two-time iF Design Award Winner (2023: JINS PARK Maebashi, 2026: AOI CELESTIE COFFEE ROASTERY), and the 76th MEXT Art Encouragement Newcomer Prize. Her current projects include the TOKYO TORCH Torch Tower.