Photo credit: SONY

Tokyo, Japan — Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. (Sony CSL) has unveiled its third Tomonami project, this time in collaboration with renowned architectural firm Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA). The project, called Tomonami for KKAA, will be presented at Kengo Kuma’s solo exhibition opening January 24 at the New Art Museum Singapore.

Tomonami is a creativity acceleration system designed to help creators turn intuition into visible ideas. In this project, KKAA’s architects use Japanese onomatopoeic words—such as ParaPara (rhythmic porosity), TsunTsun (outward thrust), and SukeSuke (layered transparency)—as design parameters. These expressions, already part of KKAA’s internal design language, are transformed into interactive sliders that instantly generate visual simulations of architectural forms.

Developed by Sony CSL researcher Alexis André, the system allows architects to rapidly explore ideas, repeat trial-and-error processes, and share otherwise abstract design intentions in a clear, visual format. This approach strengthens dialogue within teams and accelerates the creative process, often leading to ideas that designers themselves did not initially imagine.

The name Tomonami combines the Japanese words tomo (friend) and nami (wave), reflecting co-creation and the close interaction between human creativity and technology.

The works created using Tomonami for KKAA will be featured in the exhibition:

「KENGO KUMA: MAKERU Architecture — The Ecology of Rhythm and Particle —」
Exhibition period: January 24 to June 14
Venue: New Art Museum Singapore, Tanjong Pagar Distripark

By blending sound-based language, visual technology, and architectural thinking, Tomonami for KKAA offers a glimpse into a new, more intuitive future for architectural design.