Takaharu Tezuka

Takaharu Tezuka's architectural reach extends far beyond his famous TED Talk, "The Best Kindergarten You've Ever Seen." From wall-less private residences that connect living spaces with the outside environment, to a museum capable of supporting 4 meters of snow in order to create space for observation below, he is renowned for blending natural surroundings into special designs.

Takaharu and his partner, Yui Tezuka, have completed over 100 built works ranging from small homes to large civic projects. Regardless of scale, their architecture goes beyond their keen understanding of material, structure, and space to emphasize a specific relationship between people and their environment.

As demonstrated by such works as Roof House (2001) and Fuji Kindergarten (2007), each client, user, and site translates to a particular place that exhibits a deep yet playful understanding of how a family dwells, children interact, congregations worship, and the like. Moving forward, the Tezukas aim to build upon their fundamental observations of life across a broader range of locations and project types.

Takaharu and Yui's recent awards include the Japan Institute of Architects Prize, the Association for Children's Environment Design Award, the OECD/CELE 4th Compendium of Exemplary Educational Facilities, and a Global Award for Sustainable Architecture.