Kengo Kuma translated his architectural language into textiles. The Japanese architect worked with Indian rug maker Jaipur Rugs to create Faces, a 16-piece collection of wool rugs that mirror the facades of his buildings. The collection debuted at Milan design week.
Each rug pulls directly from Kuma's actual structures, including the Albert Kahn Museum. It's a literal conversion of his design vocabulary from steel and stone into fiber and weave. Kuma described it as capturing the "sensory memory of architecture," suggesting that his buildings' visual essence could survive the translation into a different medium.
The collaboration works both directions. Kuma's minimalist precision and material sensitivity align with the craftsmanship Jaipur Rugs demands. For the brand, partnering with one of the world's most recognizable architects elevates the collection beyond functional home goods into design objects worth studying. For Kuma, it's another expansion beyond buildings themselves, proving his ideas hold weight across disciplines.