KENGO KUMA

At the meeting on the Orient and the Mediterranean organized by Diasen, the Japanese master of contextual architecture invites us to rediscover the value of natural materials and the harmony between humans and the environment.

Milan, October 8, 2025 – Diasen, ha ospitato Kengo Kuma, hosted Kengo Kuma, one of the most influential contemporary architects, at the event “Homes and Well-being: Architecture, Design, and Living between the Mediterranean and Japan”. The meeting, dedicated to exploring the relationship between architecture, design, and the culture of living, was organized by Diasen in collaboration with the School of Design and the Department of Design of the Politecnico di Milano. It took place on October 6 at the School of Design, Politecnico di Milano – Bovisa Campus.

The event was opened with institutional greetings from Donatella Sciuto, Rector of the Politecnico di Milano; Anna Meroni, Deputy Dean of the School of Design; and Diego Mingarelli, CEO of Diasen. Their remarks were followed by contributions from Gian Pietro Simonetti, Head of Marketing & Communication at Diasen, and Giuliana Salmaso, founder of Studio Giuliana Salmaso.

The discussion on living comfort—understood as a balance between form, materials, and well-being—was at the heart of a round table that brought together two design traditions: the Mediterranean and the Japanese. Both share a focus on harmony with the surrounding context, the use of natural materials, and biophilic principles. The panel featured Kengo Kuma (Kengo Kuma & Associates), Diego Mingarelli (CEO of Diasen), Francesco Zurlo (Dean of the School of Design), Andrea Campioli (Dean of the School of Architecture, Urban Planning and Construction Engineering), and Gilda Bojardi (Editor-in-Chief of Interni magazine). Moderated by Alessandro Cannavò, the discussion explored the role of physical contexts and architectural forms, highlighting how curved lines and natural materials can create regenerative spaces and enhance quality of life.

“The event with Kengo Kuma was an extraordinary moment of reflection on the relationship between the Orient and the Mediterranean in architecture. He is a figure of great generosity and depth, who allowed us to refocus on the theme of natural materials and their transformation as a new horizon for research and experimentation,” said Diego Mingarelli, CEO di Diasen. “It was an opportunity to better define our reason for being, our corporate ikigai: to build lasting beauty, to generate well-being, and to leave a mark of regeneration and authentic sustainability.”

Kengo Kuma, master of contextual architecture, delivered a lecture titled “The Dwellings of Comfort: Biophilic Architecture from the Mediterranean to Japan,” in which he shared—through an engaging narrative of his most emblematic works—his vision of architecture as an act of listening, empathy, and subtraction, capable of restoring balance between humans and the environment.