​Naoyuki Shirakawa

Naoyuki Shirakawa

Architect and president of Naoyuki Shirakawa Atelier

1951: Born in Kokura, Kitakyushu, where he resides today.

1974: Graduated with a B.A. in architecture from Kyoto University.

1974-1987: Worked at Ishimoto Architectural & Engineering Firm, Inc. 

1987: Received the Incentive Award of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Best Municipal Elementary School for his design of Kaseda Elementary School. Soon after, he opened his own architectural office in Tokyo. His first project, Metal Tea House, received the 1987 SD Review Award, an award which has helped launch the career of many architects, and captured the attention of the architectural industry in Japan.

1994: Received the Good Design Award (Japan) for his design of SUN AQUA TOTO, a factory of Japan’s largest toilet manufacturer, TOTO, in Kokura, Kitakyushu. It was the first building in Japan to win the award.

2005: Relocated his office to his hometown of Kokura, Kitakyushu.

2005 - 2014: Worked as a visiting professor at Kyushu Institute of Technology.