Yuko Nagayama

Yuko Nagayama (永山祐子, born 1975 ) is a Japanese architect and a visiting professor at the Musashino Art University.

Due to her father's (Kuniaki Nagayama's) profession as a physicist and biophysics researcher,[3] she spent her early childhood in Switzerland.

[5] Upon graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts and gaining a second-class architect qualification, Nagayama joined the architecture studio of Jun Aoki.

[1] It was common for employees at Jun Aoki & Associates to undergo a 4-year tenure period, allowing the firm to benefit from a continuous infusion of fresh talent and new ideas.

In one apartment, she could work independently whilst taking care of her firstborn, and the other served as a small meeting room that doubled as a conference space.

In addition to the firm’s focus on commercial projects, Yoko Nagayama and her team engages in local renewal and art initiatives.

During this event, a total of 7 artists showcased installations and artworks in Nagayama’s Kiya Ryokan (Ehime, 2012) and the city’s shopping arcade.

A key concept she incorporates into her designs is the Japanese notion of 'Ma (間),' which refers to voids and empty spaces.

[7] Her practice is described by architect Ruairí O'Brien as using "what is there to achieve what is not there by exploiting the spaces between, filling the gaps and using the "leftovers" in inclusive and people-oriented ways.