Keynote Lecture

 Are African cities 'the laboratory of the future' for us in Seoul and Tokyo?

Fumi Kashimura

TERRAIN architects / Tokyo University

Fumi Kashimura is the co-founder and principal architect of TERRAIN architects, an architectural practice based in Tokyo and Kampala, and an associate professor at Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA).


TERRAIN anrchitects explores how architecture can incorporate and amplify the indigenous elements of every environment, treating architecture as integral component of the topography, culture, climate, people, and time. Their major works include Kashimada Nursery School (Kanagawa, JP), Yamasen Japanese Restaurant (Kampala, UG), and AU Dormitory (Kampala, UG).


Her professional pursuits are intertwined with her academic role at TUA, where she leads a studio that delves into the concepts of locality and indigenousness. Students engage in hands-on projects across different locations and communities, including workshops in Urayasu, Japan, and Nansana, Uganda, fostering a profound understanding of these themes through research and making.