Collaborator George Kunihiro
George Kunihiro
FAIA
Architect / Guest Professor
Managing Director
T-Life Environmental Lab Co. Ltd. Professor, Kokushikan University Visiting Professor, Tsinghua University
George Kunihiro, FAIA, is a noted architect / educator. He is a Professor of Architecture at the Kokushikan University in Tokyo, Japan. He has also held a teaching position at Harvard University, Yale University and Columbia University in the United States and Methodius University in Macedonia.
Professor Kunihiro received Master of Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and Bachelor of Arts from the University of California / Berkeley. In 1980, Professor Kunihiro began his private practice in San Francisco. Subsequently, he opened his office in Los Angeles and New York and designed numerous projects in the United States and in Japan. In 1997, Professor Kunihiro moved his base to Asia. Since his arrival back in Tokyo, he has maintained an international architectural practice, and as an academic, continues his research on the modern heritage in the contemporary Asian society.
Professor Kunihiro has received numerous international recognitions including the Presidential Medals from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and from Federacion de Colegios de Arquitectos de Mexico in recognition of significant contribution to the field of architecture. He was also selected to the 11the Annual Space Design Review in 1992, and received the Japan Commercial Environmental Design Award in 1993. In 2008, “2@5”, a residence in Tokyo, was selected in the JIA Architect of the Year Annual.
Professor Kunihiro has been active in promoting the profession and research in Asia. From 2011 to 2012, He served as the President of the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA), an organization of 21 national institutes of architects in Asia. He is currently the Vice Chairman of mAAN (modern Asian Architecture Network), an organization working to conserve and to revitalize the 20the Century Asian heritage. With mAAN, Professor Kunihiro has organized international workshops on cultural and industrial heritage in China, Indonesia and Turkey. In 2009, he was elevated to the College of Fellows. In 2011, he was appointed Visiting Professor at prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing, PRC, where was a Senior Visiting Scholar in 2013. In the same year, Professor Kunihiro served on the National Board of the AIA as the as International Director, and in 2014-15, as a Member of the Strategic Council. In 2012, Professor Kunihiro was appointed the Commissioner of the Longquan International Bamboo Architecture Biennale to coordinates the community design of a local village in Zhejiang Province, PRC. From 2016-2017 Professor Kunihiro was on the Board of Directors on the International Region of the AIA. In 2017, he was appointed as an Advisor to the President of the ARCASIA. He has also been a member on various international juries and lectured widely on the subject of modern architecture, heritage revitalization and urban design.
Award
Award, 11th Annual Space Design Review (1992), Japan Commercial Design Association Award, (1993), JIA Architect of the Year Annual. 2 ＠ ５ [D Residence] （2008）, Presidential Medal, Federacion de Colegio de Arquitectos de la Republica Mexicana (2010), Presidential Medal, American Institute of Architects (2011), Richard Upjohn Fellowship, AIA
(2013, 2015)
Representative Works
La Petite Chaya (1983), Cine Citta Kawasaki (1987), Villa Rosa (1990), Communicate Saloon Pia (1992), S Residence(1991), CoCos Nobuoka Osaka (1994), Restaurant Marilyn (1996), Daishouin Temple, Monk’s Quarter (1999), Grand Blue Roppongi Wine and Dining (2000), 7th Volunteer Fire Fighting Division, Nishi-Tokyo (2000), Blue Aoyama Building (2000), Okinawa S Resort Project (2005), Field of Dreams [N Residence] (2002), 2 ＠ 5 [D Residence](2006), Weekend House MM Kamakura(2008), Two River Four Shores Urban Plan, Xixiang, Shaanxi Province, PRC, (2010) Guizhou Resort Hotel (2014), Chengdu High Rise (2015)
Member of the Professional Competition Jury
2019 Adjudicator, UIA International Architectural
Design Competition. “Knowledge and Innovation Center
Tripoli, Lebanon
2018 Convener, ARCASIA Architecture Award
Tokyo, Japan
2016 Adjudicator, American Institute of Architects Japan Chapter Award Jury
Tokyo, Japan
2012 Adjudicator, Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) Award Master Jury
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2011 Adjudicator, ARCASIA Awards 2011-2012, Architects Regional Council Asia
Danang, Vietnam
2010 Adjudicator, Hong Kong Chapter, American Institute of Architects Honors & Awards
Hong Kong, SAR
2008 Adjudicator, UIA International Competition for Architects Under 35
Torino, Italy
2008 Adjudicator, International Competition for
Centennial Independence Plaza
Mexico City, Mexico
2004 Adjudicator, 8th TEPCO Comfortable Residential Design Contest
Tokyo Electric Power Company
2003 Adjudicator, 7th TEPCO Comfortable Residential Design Contest
Tokyo Electric Power Company
2001 Adjudicator, 6th TEPCO Comfortable Residential Design Contest
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)
2000 Adjudicator, 5th TEPCO Comfortable Residential Design Contest
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)
Tokyo, Japan