The predecessor to C+A (Coelacanth and Associates), “Coelacanth,” was jointly founded in 1986 by seven students including Kazuhiro Kojima and Yasuyuki Ito, and was renamed C+A in 1998. In 2005, it reorganized into CAt(C+A Tokyo) and CAn(C+A Nagoya), each based in Tokyo and Nagoya respectively, and has since presented architectural works both locally and internationally.

C+A states the following as a key point they value in their design activities:

«We believe that architecture is not a «thing» but an «event.» The architecture itself is made up of matter, but there are always many things, including people’s activities, environmental factors such as wind, light, water, and sound, time and the structural power that makes up the architecture. There is a flow. The space created by the architecture made with «things» is a device that evokes activities, and designs the «events» that the architecture creates. Design is always about asking the essence of the activity and thinking about how architecture works. While valuing these principles, we engage in a wide range of design activities, from private to public buildings.»

C+A is known for designing numerous public facilities, including schools, infusing them with fresh perspectives. The firm has been featured in numerous domestic and international architecture magazines and has received many awards, including AIJ Award, International Architecture Awards, 2A Asia Architecture Award, Global Holcim Awards, Good Design Award, Togo Murano Prize, AACA Award, and KUKAN DESIGN AWARD. Beyond participating in architectural projects, C+A actively engages in educational activities related to architecture, including lectures, workshops, and seminars. Kazuko Akamatsu, currently the representative of C+A, has been teaching as a professor at the Faculty of Design Engineering, Hosei University since 2013.

https://c-and-a.co.jp/en/
Instagram