Japanese architect Tsuyoshi Tane believes in looking backwards to shape the future.

”A place remembers what has happened.”

We visited Paris-based architect Tsuyoshi Tane in his studio and found a fascinating approach to architecture, looking backwards to shape the future.

”Time is about continuity. Humans make periods to make things countable or measurable. But time never stops; it continues. And memory is about collectivity. It's called collective memory. It's not just one personal memory; our human existence is accumulated from generation to generation." Tsuyopshi explains and continues: "So as an architect, I try to dig into the memory of the place, to collect, to think archaeologically, and thus to create an architecture for the future. Every site has a memory, and we're trying to dig to discover what’s underneath, what nobody has written and explained. We want to start digging down to discover a site’s different pasts."


Tsuyoshi Tane (b. in 1979 in Tokyo) has lived in Paris since 2006, where he founded ATTA - Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects. He believes that architecture belongs to the memory of a place, as a connection between the past and the future, a concept he calls Archaeology of the Future. Tane's major works include "Estonian National Museum (2016)," "Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art (2020)," "The Al Thani Collection - Hôtel de la Marine (2021)," "Vitra – Tane Garden House (2023)," and "Imperial Hotel Tokyo New Main Building (scheduled for completion in 2036).

Throughout his career, Tane has received numerous awards and honours, including Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture in 2022, the Jean-Dejean Prize of the French Academy of Architecture, Estonian Cultural Endowment Grand Prix, the 67th Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists, among others. He has published several books, including ‘TSUYOSHI TANE Archaeology of the Future ’ (TOTO Publications).


Tsuyoshi Tane was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner in his Paris studio in September 2025.

Camera: Simon Weyhe
Edit: Nanna Dahm
Produced by: Marc-Christoph Wagner

Additional credits:
Photo & Video:
Julien Lanoo
Tomoyuki Kusunose
Takumi Ota
Hikaru Fujii
KO ODA
Daici Ano

Music via Upright:
Altered States by Ben Stone
Scientific Cosmic Soundscape by John Goldham
Stilled in Time by Oliver Frederick Newton & Oliver Malcolm Axel Knowles

Copyright: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2026
Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond.

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