Ar. George Kunihiro, FAIA Bio

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.

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