In this July and August, The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur together with Urban Design and Conservation Research Unit (UDCRU), Faculty of Built Environment UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA and Galeri Shah Alam is organising a new exhibition, entitled ?Kumamoto Artpolis: Architecture through Communication?. It showcases 69 photo panels of 67 unique and creative buildings designed by different architects under the ?Kumamoto Artpolis? program, which was initiated by local government. The architects were chosen by Arata ISOZAKI, Japan?s leading architect and the commissioner of this program. The Exhibition will be held at the Gallerium, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia from 20 July to 3 August 2006, and at Galeri Shah Alam from 11 August to 10 September 2006.

?Kumamoto Artpolis: Architecture through Communication? exhibition was launched as one of the traveling exhibition of the Japan Foundation in 2003. This exhibition set was made to introduce Japanese contemporary architecture through the buildings that are completed under this program as well as introducing the great concept and the big challenge of this program from the view point of regional planning and development.

Johor
Duration: 20 (Thu) July ? 3 (Thu) August 2006
Venue: The Gallerium, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Skudai, Johor
Enquiry: The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur 03-2161 2104
Time: 9am ? 6pm
Admission: Free

Kuala Lumpur
Duration: 11 (Fri) August ? 10 (Sun) September 2006
Venue: Galeri Shah Alam
Laman Budaya, Persiaran Tasik Barat, Shah Alam
Tel: 03-5510 5344 / 6045
Time: Tue-Sun 10am ? 6pm
Admission: Free

For further enquiries, please contact The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur at 03-2161 2104 or email to jpcc@jfkl.org.my

Kumamoto Artpolis
The “Kumamoto Artpolis” program began in 1988 as an innovative attempt to develop new communities throughout Kumamoto prefecture, located on Kyushu island, southern-west part of Japan. Arata ISOZAKI, Japan’s leading architect, was appointed as the commissioner, and architects and designers recommended by the commissioner have worked with local residents to create various buildings such as public apartments, museums, community centers, bridges and so on. The goal is not simply to improve the quality of building design but to use architectural project to bring together architects and local residents so that they can consider how communities in which the project are to be built might be improved. Over 70 buildings were built under this program, and it’s still on today.

Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the center of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four major Japanese islands. It is bordered by the Ariake inland sea and the Amakusa archipelago to the west, Fukuoka Prefecture and Oita Prefecture to the north, Miyazaki Prefecture to the east, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the south.Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the center of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four major Japanese islands. It is bordered by the Ariake inland sea and the Amakusa archipelago to the west, Fukuoka Prefecture and Oita Prefecture to the north, Miyazaki Prefecture to the east, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the south.

Kouda Akebono Nursery School
Architect: MIKAN
Photo: Masaki Miyai

Saishukan Lady’s Residence
Architect: Kazuyo Sejima Architects & Associates
Photo: Masatsugu Miiyai