Naoko Horibe
Naoko Horibe · Horibe Associates · Osaka, est. 2003
An Osaka practice led by managing architect Naoko Horibe, working mainly on private houses across the Kansai region and beyond. Its stated aim is architecture that lasts for decades and settles into the place it belongs to.
Practice
Horibe Associates
Based In
Osaka & Tokyo
Recent Honor
Asia Design Prize, Gold, 2025
The Approach
01 / Recurring ideas in the work
The practice's philosophy
I.
A long responsibility
Once a building is finished, the practice notes, it shapes its townscape, the people around it, and the environment, and it stays on its site for decades whether or not it is treasured. They design with that long responsibility in mind.
II.
Timeless over fashionable
Their stated aim is not design alone and not function alone, but the many things that let a building be loved for decades, protect the people who use it, and not fade with passing trends.
Selected works
02 / Seven key projects
Apartment building
Tokyo
Mimosa Pudica
A four-storey reinforced-concrete apartment building in Tokyo. It received the 2022 OPAL Award in London and a 2022 Architecture MasterPrize in the United States in the multi-unit residential category.
Type
Condominium
Structure
Reinforced concrete, 4 floors
Location
Tokyo
School
Osaka
White Rose English School
A three-storey reinforced-concrete building in Osaka housing an English-conversation school.
Type
English-conversation school
Structure
Reinforced concrete, 3 floors
Location
Osaka
House
Osaka
Navy Box
A three-storey timber-framed house in Osaka, built to seismic grade 3.
Type
House
Structure
Wood frame, 3 floors
Location
Osaka
House
Osaka
House in Tsukawaki
A two-storey timber house in Osaka. The practice's own name for the project is the rock climber's residence.
Type
House
Structure
Wood frame, 2 floors
Location
Osaka
Café
Osaka
Nomi Shrine Cafe
A single-storey café of reinforced concrete and timber, built at Nomi Shrine in Osaka.
Type
Café
Structure
Concrete and wood, single storey
Location
Osaka
Art museum
Hyogo
Galerie Ashiya Schule
A two-storey timber art museum in Ashiya, Hyogo.
Type
Art museum
Structure
Wood frame, 2 floors
Location
Hyogo
Lodging
Osaka
Private Villa Ten (Kumano)
A two-storey lodging villa of mixed concrete and timber construction, listed by the practice under Osaka.
Type
Lodging facility
Structure
Concrete and wood, 2 floors
Location
Osaka
Project index
03 / Completed works
A selection of completed projects as listed by Horibe Associates. Most are private houses across the Kansai region and Tokushima, alongside number of public and cultural buildings.
Public, cultural & other
TokyoMimosa Pudica
OsakaWhite Rose English School
OsakaNomi Shrine Cafe
OsakaPrivate Villa Ten (Kumano)
KyotoOffice in Kamigyo
HyogoGalerie Ashiya Schule
HyogoWorkshop Gallery Koti
NaraGallery Cafe Takeno
OitaDog Salon in Oita
Houses
OsakaCasa Delta
OsakaNavy Box
OsakaHouse in Matsugaoka
OsakaHouse in Higashisumiyoshi
OsakaHouse in Tsukawaki
OsakaHouse in Kumatori
OsakaHouse in Kisaichi
OsakaHouse in Yamasaka
OsakaHouse in Mita
OsakaHouse in Hatsugano
OsakaHouse in Takatsuki (Jugatsu)
OsakaHouse in Mayu
OsakaHouse in Fukai
OsakaHouse in Suita
OsakaHouse in Hamadera
OsakaHouse in Ina
OsakaHouse in Morihigashi
HyogoGarage House in Takarazuka
Hyogoadzuki
NaraHouse in Koryo
NaraHouse in Takayamadai
NaraHouse in Kyobate
NaraHouse in Kashiba
KyotoIchimatsu House
ShigaHouse in Sugie
MieGarage House in Kawagoe
WakayamaHouse in Kinokawa
YamanashiHouse in Shimokatou
KagawaHouse in Marugame
TokushimaHouse in Miyoshi
TokushimaArboleda LP884
TokushimaHouse in Naruto
TokushimaHouse in Seto
TokushimaHouse in Kamihachiman
TokushimaHouse in Yamakawa
TokushimaHouse in Kamoshima
TokushimaHouse in Ikenotani
Recognition
04 / Honors
Asia Design Prize, Gold Winner, Space (Korea)
2025
A' Design Award, Bronze in Architecture (Italy)
2023
OPAL Award, Architectural Design / Condominium (London)
2022
Architecture MasterPrize, Residential Multi-Unit (USA)
2022
Architecture MasterPrize, Honorable Mention, Single Family (USA)
2022
DNA Paris Design Awards, Architecture / Housing (France)
2022
Takatsuki City Landscape Award, selected
2020
Kids Design Award (9th)
2015
Kansai Architects' Newcomer Award (7th)
2012
Good Design Award
2010
Not just design or capabilities, but a focus on the many essentials of architecture. Timeless longevity, loved for years, and guarding people's lives: this is the concept we pursue.
Horibe Associates
Profile 03 / 04 · Horibe Associates
Project names, types, locations and awards are drawn from Horibe Associates official site (https://horibeassociates.com)
Naoko Horibe
Naoko Horibe · Horibe Associates · Osaka, est. 2003
An Osaka practice led by managing architect Naoko Horibe, working mainly on private houses across the Kansai region and beyond. Its stated aim is architecture that lasts for decades and settles into the place it belongs to.
Practice
Horibe Associates
Based In
Osaka & Tokyo
Recent Honor
Asia Design Prize, Gold, 2025
01 / Recurring ideas in the work
The Approach
The practice's philosophy
I.
A long responsibility
Once a building is finished, the practice notes, it shapes its townscape, the people around it, and the environment, and it stays on its site for decades whether or not it is treasured. They design with that long responsibility in mind.
II.
Timeless over fashionable
Their stated aim is not design alone and not function alone, but the many things that let a building be loved for decades, protect the people who use it, and not fade with passing trends.
02 / Seven key projects
Selected works
Apartment building
Tokyo
Mimosa Pudica
A four-storey reinforced-concrete apartment building in Tokyo. It received the 2022 OPAL Award in London and a 2022 Architecture MasterPrize in the United States in the multi-unit residential category.
Type
Condominium
Structure
Reinforced concrete, 4 floors
Location
Tokyo
School
Osaka
White Rose English School
A three-storey reinforced-concrete building in Osaka housing an English-conversation school.
Type
English-conversation school
Structure
Reinforced concrete, 3 floors
Location
Osaka
House
Osaka
Navy Box
A three-storey timber-framed house in Osaka, built to seismic grade 3.
Type
House
Structure
Wood frame, 3 floors
Location
Osaka
House
Osaka
House in Tsukawaki
A two-storey timber house in Osaka. The practice's own name for the project is the rock climber's residence.
Type
House
Structure
Wood frame, 2 floors
Location
Osaka
Café
Osaka
Nomi Shrine Cafe
A single-storey café of reinforced concrete and timber, built at Nomi Shrine in Osaka.
Type
Café
Structure
Concrete and wood, single storey
Location
Osaka
Art museum
Hyogo
Galerie Ashiya Schule
A two-storey timber art museum in Ashiya, Hyogo.
Type
Art museum
Structure
Wood frame, 2 floors
Location
Hyogo
Lodging
Osaka
Private Villa Ten (Kumano)
A two-storey lodging villa of mixed concrete and timber construction, listed by the practice under Osaka.
Type
Lodging facility
Structure
Concrete and wood, 2 floors
Location
Osaka
03 / Completed works
Project index
A selection of completed projects as listed by Horibe Associates. Most are private houses across the Kansai region and Tokushima, alongside number of public and cultural buildings.
Public, cultural & other
TokyoMimosa Pudica
OsakaWhite Rose English School
OsakaNomi Shrine Cafe
OsakaPrivate Villa Ten (Kumano)
KyotoOffice in Kamigyo
HyogoGalerie Ashiya Schule
HyogoWorkshop Gallery Koti
NaraGallery Cafe Takeno
OitaDog Salon in Oita
Houses
OsakaCasa Delta
OsakaNavy Box
OsakaHouse in Matsugaoka
OsakaHouse in Higashisumiyoshi
OsakaHouse in Tsukawaki
OsakaHouse in Kumatori
OsakaHouse in Kisaichi
OsakaHouse in Yamasaka
OsakaHouse in Mita
OsakaHouse in Hatsugano
OsakaHouse in Takatsuki (Jugatsu)
OsakaHouse in Mayu
OsakaHouse in Fukai
OsakaHouse in Suita
OsakaHouse in Hamadera
OsakaHouse in Ina
OsakaHouse in Morihigashi
HyogoGarage House in Takarazuka
Hyogoadzuki
NaraHouse in Koryo
NaraHouse in Takayamadai
NaraHouse in Kyobate
NaraHouse in Kashiba
KyotoIchimatsu House
ShigaHouse in Sugie
MieGarage House in Kawagoe
WakayamaHouse in Kinokawa
YamanashiHouse in Shimokatou
KagawaHouse in Marugame
TokushimaHouse in Miyoshi
TokushimaArboleda LP884
TokushimaHouse in Naruto
TokushimaHouse in Seto
TokushimaHouse in Kamihachiman
TokushimaHouse in Yamakawa
TokushimaHouse in Kamoshima
TokushimaHouse in Ikenotani
