Atsushi Kitagawara was born in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. While studying for a BA in architecture at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music he won first prize in the Japan Architect International Design Competition. He graduated in 1974 and proceeded to a master's degree at the same institution, participating in an urban design project while attending graduate school. He began working as an architect in 1975, and in 1982 founded his own firm , Inc. He was in 2005 appointed Professor at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Since beginning work in his twenties Kitagawara has undertaken architectural projects, urban planning, landscape design, furniture and stage design. His concepts and methods draw on fields including poetry, music and contemporary arts. He has won a number of awards, including the Architectural Institute of Japan Award in 2002, the first prize in the Innovative Architecture International Award in 2006, the Grand-Prix in the Kenneth Brown Architecture Design Award in 2007, the Murano Togo Prize, the AIA Japan Professional Honor Award in 2008, Top Prize of JIA Grand Prix in 2009, and the Japan Art Academy Prize in 2010. As of 2008 he works extensively outside Japan, including from his in Europe. He also teaches at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and practices along with associates at Atsushi Kitagawara Architects. He is a protagonist of an artistically shaped and expressionistic architectural style, which celebrates the experience of space, without losing sight of the functional requirements. Through numerous award-winning projects, such as the Nakamura Keith Haring Museum, he is constantly exploring new means of construction, composition and usage of materials. He thereby creates complex spatial structures and façades, which challenge the conventional viewing patterns of the user, whilst never diminishing the human criteria.
Awards
First Prize of "The Japan Architect" International Design Competition, Yoshioka Award /1973 Newcomer Prize, Japan Institute of Architects /1991 Tokyo Architectural Award /1994 Gold Medal, Good Design Award /1995 Japan Society for Finishing Technology Award /1997 Premium Award, Architectural Institute of Japan /1997 Kumamoto Landscape Award /1999 Japan Federation of Architects and Building Engineers Associations Award /2000 Bessie Award /2000 Architectural Institute of Japan Award /2000 Library Architecture Award of J.L.A. /2001 Premium Award, Architectural Institute of Japan /2002 Canada Green Design Award /2002 Building Contractors Society Award /2002 Architectural Institute of Japan Award /2002 Eco-Build Award /2002 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award / 2003 Gold Medal, Arcasia Award /2003 First Prize, Innovative Architecture International Award, Italy /2006 Special Prize, Public Architectural Award /2006 Grand-Prix, Kenneth Brown Architecture Design Award / 2007 Architectural Culture Award of Yamanashi-pref / 2007 Togo Murano Award / 2008 AIA Japan Professional Honor Award / 2008 Toshima Streetscape Award Grand Prix / 2009 Top Prize of JIA Grand Prix / 2009 The Japan Art Academy Prize / 2010 Architectural Institute of Japan Award /2011 Building Contractors Society Award /2011
Works
1985 Kaita MURAYAMA Memorial Art Museum 1985 “Rise” Cinema Theater 1986 Miaon-Kaku 1986 395 1988 Mesa 1988 Cloudy Spoon 1989 Metrotour / Awajicho Building 1989 Metroça 1989 Vasara 1990 Saint-Loco 1991 Metrotristan 1992 Higashi Nihonbashi Police Box 1992 “Fog Forest” Showa Emperor’s National Memorial Park 1993 Chuken, tea ceremony space 1994 Annex of Ikegami Industry Inc. 1994 Iwaki New Town Center 1997 Santaria Church 1997 Ueda Municipal County Culture House 1997 Sendenkaigi Headquarters 1998 Big Palette Fukushima 1998・1999・2000 One of a kind（NDT- performed worldwide/ Opera Garunie in Paris, NY Lincoln Center） 1998 Tsuyama Region Center 1998 Hakone Public Rest House of Minato-ku 1999 Toshima Gakuin High School, phase1 1999 Uki Shiranui Library and Art Museum 2001 Kino-Kuni Site Sight Information Pavilion 2001 Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture 2002 Daigaku-Megane Laboratory Corp. Building 2002 2002 Hida Beef Cattle Memorial Museum 2002 Japan P.E.N. Club Headquarters 2003 Toshima Gakuin High School, phase2 2003 Sasebo Shinminato Liner Terminal 2003 Imperial Palace Outer Garden Rest House 2004 Showa Tetsudo High School 2004 ARIA 2004 2005 :ja:ファイル:Kaisho.gif|Kaisho Forest View tube 2005 C’BON Headquarters 2006 Midori Headquarters 2007 2007 2007 Akasaka Phoenix 2008 One of a kind（Opéra National de Lyon） 2009 ARCA 2009 Sendenkaigi Nishiwaseda building 2010 CANITTE
Books
Modern Architecture / Space and method 7 - Atsushi Kitagawara, Doho-sha, 1986 Atsushi Kitagawara, JA vol.8: The Japan Architect, Shinkennchiku-sha, 1992 Atsushi Kitagawara and Koichi Inakoshi Archigraph 2: photographic monologue, TOTO Publications, 1993
