Design Associates Nakamura

Design Associates Nakamura (DAN) represents a unique intergenerational architectural practice that bridges traditional Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary design thinking across its Nagasaki and Tokyo offices. Founded in March 1981 by Hiromi Nakamura in Nagasaki, the firm established its foundation in timber-centric architecture deeply responsive to natural contexts. This four-decade legacy expanded significantly in October 2020 when So Nakamura, who was born in Isahaya, Nagasaki in 1986, established the Tokyo office after serving as senior architect at Kengo Kuma and Associates from 2013 to 2020.

The practice's design philosophy centers on two fundamental principles: architecture employing timber construction and structures that integrate seamlessly with natural environments. This commitment manifests in projects that prioritize proximity to nature, distinctive spatial richness, occupant comfort, and site-specific responses that could not exist elsewhere. The firm believes architecture should maintain close relationships with nature, creating comfortable environments through individualized and enriched spaces, realizing architectural value that can only be achieved at specific sites.

So Nakamura brings rigorous academic credentials, having completed his Master's degree in Architecture from Tokyo Denki University's Graduate School of Future Sciences in 2013, following his undergraduate studies in the Department of Architecture. His experience at one of Japan's most internationally recognized architectural offices informs DAN's contemporary practice while maintaining continuity with the firm's established values. Under So Nakamura's leadership, the Tokyo office integrates cutting-edge design concepts with the traditional wisdom of the Nagasaki office, forming a unique design methodology.

The studio undertakes comprehensive architectural services spanning residential design, renovation projects, commercial spaces, and office facilities, accepting commissions regardless of geographic location throughout Japan. DAN's commitment to natural material application and environmental harmony ensures that each architectural intervention operates not merely as functional space, but performs positive spatial transformation of its environmental context through thoughtful design strategies, creating architectural works that genuinely belong to and are cherished by local communities.