Profile

GEOFFREY P. MOUSSAS

407-1-37-4 Wakoku-cho,
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
〒606-8363 JAPAN
090-8526-8267

U.S. TEL/FAX: +1(626)427-8099
Email: gpm.design1st@gmail.com


Geoffrey P. Moussas of Design 1st is a New York-born, MIT-trained and Kyoto-based architect who has lived in Japan since 1994. His work has been featured in the Financial Times, Casa Brutus and on CNN and NHK among countless others. He has restored and redesigned around 40 traditional Japanese structures including machiya townhouses, restaurants, tearooms and kura (storehouses). He also has restored 2 temples, including a 400-year-old Buddhist temple in Aichi Prefecture of Japan, with the addition of a modern ossuary, as well as new-built houses and his latest project is a new-built hotel. He has and continues to teach architectural design in Japanese throughout Japan, including at Kyoto University, Waseda University, Kansai University, among others. His work has been exhibited in Kiyomizu temple, as well as in Nijo-jo castle and in 2008 published Engawa no Shisou-The Philosophy of the Veranda.

Education

1993
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Master of Architecture (MArch)
2002-Present
Kyoto University, Department of Architecture, Visiting Lecturer
2002-2013
Kansai University, Department of Architecture, Visiting Lecturer
MIT/Waseda University Workshop, Assistant Instructor

Work

2001
Established Design 1st
1998–2001
Nakamura Satouji Construction – Designer – Site Supervision
Rockefeller Residence Teahouse, Tarrytown, New York – Site Supervision
Philidelphia Pine Breeze Villa, Philidelphia – Site Supervision
Arakawa Residence, Kyoto – Piano room addition

1997–1998
Yoshio Taniguchi Architectural Workshop – Designer
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York – Competition (1st Prize)
IBM Japan Technical Center, Makuhari – Phase 2 (Schematic design)

1994–1997
Maki & Associates, Tokyo – Designer
Fumihiko Maki Selected Buildings and Projects – Editor
Hillside West – Schematic Design
Kitanaka Redevelopment, Yokohama – Schematic Design
Alameda Development, Mexico City – Schematic Design

1992
Takanaka Corporation, Osaka – Intern

Selected Media Exposure (Partial list)

2012 Nov
Asahi Satellite TV, Eco Etiquette “The Veranda”

2011 May 26
TV Osaka, Japanese Origins, TV Osaka

2010 Oct
Asahi Satellite TV, Eco Etiquette, “Machiya Splendor”

2008 Nov 1
Pen magazine, “Fusion of Architectural Culture and the Modern Townhouse”

2008 Oct 15
Newsweek Japan, “Modernization of Machiya Culture”, pg. 54

2008 April
The Philosophy of the Veranda, Shodensha, 2008

2007 July
NHK Weekend Japanology, NHK World TV

2006 Sept
Casa Brutus, Magazine House Publishing, pp. 120-123

2006 Aug
Fujin Gaho, Ashetto Fujingaho Company. pp. 84-85

2006 Oct 7
Chunichi Newspaper, Chunichi Newspaper Company. Front page

2005
Before / After – Kyoto Machiya – 2 Hour Special, ABC TV

2005 Dec 30
The Daily Yomiuri, Yomiuri Newspaper Tokyo Main office pg. 16

2005 Dec 17
Chunichi Newspaper, Chunichi Newspaper Company. pg. Front page

2005 Oct 20
Chunichi Newspaper, Chunichi Newspaper Compan. pg. 21

2005 Jul
Yomiuri Weekly,Yomiuri Newspaper Tokyo Main Office. pp. 48-50
Kyoto Machiya, Tankosha Publishing Co.

2005 Dec
Kansai Time Out, S.U. Publishing Co. pp. 36-37

2003 May
New House Magazine, New House Publishing Co. pp. 92-97

2002
Before / After – Edo Period Warehouse renovation – ABC TV

1999 Oct
Sun Magazine, Heibonsha pp. 45-47

Selected Works

2013-14
Daichi-in Temple, Chita City – Addition of Ossuary for 300 people. (Phase II)

2012
Miyabi Guesthouse, Kyoto – Machiya guesthouse renovation.
Time Frame Renovation, SF CA. –Renovation of rare glasses shop on Valencia St.
2011
Daichi-in Temple, Chita City – Renovation of 400 yr old traditional section (Phase I)

2010
Rockefeller Residence, Tarrytown, NY – Repair of a 100 yr old teahouse

2009
Kappo Bar Doi, Gion, Kyoto – Renovation of a restaurant in Gion

2008
Hawes Residence, San Francisco, CA – Renovation
Elhart Residence, Pasadena – Renovation

2007
Kisshoji Temple, Tsushima – New Construction – Lodging (Phase II)
Touzando, Kyoto – Japanese Sword Shop – Renovation
Calvin Residence, South Pasadena – Renovation

2006
Gion Guesthouse, Kyoto – Machiya guesthouse renovation
Aoyama Residence, Kyoto Renovation

2005
Sahaya Illam Guesthouse, Andimadam, India, new construction
Kisshoji Temple, Tsushima – Renovation of 200 yr old section (Phase I)
Holmes Residence, South Pasadena – Renovation of Historic California Bungalow

2004
Hata Residences, Kyoto – Machiya Renovations (4 Locations, 3 Televised).
Toki Residence, Kyoto, private residence, new construction
Oshima Residence, Kanazawa – Renovation

2003
Kakizaka Warehouse Renovation,Yoshino – Conversion to Café
Imai Guesthouse, Kawanishi – Thatched roof house renovation
Sato Residence, Toyko – Renovation

2002
Hibino Residence, Kyoto – townhouse renovation
Ueda Gallery, Mukou – Edo Period Warehouse renovation

2001
Agu Residence – Gion machiya renovation