MAKI OPUS is the definitive survey of Fumihiko Maki's career, drawing on previously unpublished photographs and drawings from the studio's archives to present fifty buildings that span six decades of boundary-pushing Japanese modernism.
About This Book
Compiled in close collaboration with Maki's studio both before and after his death in 2024, this 400-page volume is the most comprehensive account of his work ever assembled. Rather than a retrospective catalogue, it is the architect's own selection — the buildings he considered most representative of a career that redefined what understated architecture could achieve. From his early years under Kenzo Tange through to late-career landmarks such as MIT Media Lab, the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, and 4 World Trade Centre, the book traces Maki's engagement with materials, building technology, and the relationship between Japanese architectural thinking and a global context. With 1,000 illustrations, it is an essential reference for anyone serious about postwar Japanese architecture and the 'architecture of simplicity' Maki pioneered.
Key Features
- 400 pages of architectural photography, drawings, and archival material — much published here for the first time
- Compiled by Maki & Associates in direct collaboration with the architect
- Fifty key buildings examined, including MIT Media Lab, the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, and 4 World Trade Centre
- Published by Thames & Hudson, 2024
What You'll Discover
- How Maki's approach to materials and building technology evolved across six decades — examined through the architect's own selection of defining works
- The influence of Kenzo Tange on Maki's early practice, and how that foundation shaped the next generation of Japanese architects
- Previously unseen photographs and drawings from the studio archives, offering new readings of his most celebrated projects
- The principles behind what critics describe as the 'architecture of simplicity' — and why Maki's restrained aesthetic has been so widely referenced and imitated
About the Author
Fumihiko Maki (1928–2024) was one of the most respected architects of the postwar period, known for technically innovative and experientially precise buildings across Japan and internationally. This volume was produced by Maki & Associates, the studio he founded, working directly with the architect before his death to establish the selection and scope of the monograph.
Specifications
- Format: Softcover
- Pages: 400
- Dimensions: 28.4 x 23.5 cm
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9780500024409
- Publisher: Thames & Hudson
- Publication Date: 2024
Perfect For: Architects and students of Japanese modernism, design academics researching postwar architecture, and practitioners drawn to the intersections of material restraint and technical precision.