Kengo Kuma & Associates (KKAA), founded in 1990 by Kengo Kuma, is a globally recognized architectural firm headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with additional offices in Paris, Beijing, and Shanghai. Kuma, born in 1954, studied architecture at the University of Tokyo and later became a professor there. KKAA's work spans over 50 countries and is characterized by a philosophy that blends nature, technology, and human experience. The firm strives to create gentle, human-scaled buildings that harmonize with their surroundings, often utilizing innovative materials as alternatives to concrete and steel.