assistant is an architecture studio founded in 2002 by Megumi Matsubara, Hiroi Ariyama, Motohiro Sunouchi, to push the boundary of architectural practice through activating interdisciplinary and international perspectives at every phase.
MEGUMI MATSUBARA
Megumi Matsubara (Tokyo, 1977) founded ASSISTANT together with Hiroi Ariyama and Motohiro Sunouchi in 2002, while they were students at the University of Tokyo. She holds Master of Interdisciplinary Studies, and in 2004 she received Master of Architecture Design from the Bartlett School of Architecture in London under Peter Cook. Her creation challenges one’s awareness of space. At ASSISTANT, she has directed research-oriented projects such as Absent City (2008) and Happy City (2003), besides diverse architectural projects. Her built work includes It Is a Garden (2016) and House of 33 Years (2013) designed with Hiroi Ariyama.
Matsubara is based between Tokyo and Fes, Morocco, since 2012.
http://www.megumimatsubara.com/
HIROI ARIYAMA
Hiroi Ariyama (Nara, 1978) founded ASSISTANT together with Megumi Matsubara and Motohiro Sunouchi in 2002, while they were students at the University of Tokyo, from which he received Master of Architecture. Between 2004-05 he received Pola Art Foundation Grant and practiced as an assistant architect in London. He operates and manages all architectural projects at ASSISTANT, and is involved in all projects from an architectural perspective. He also technically supports various spatial projects led by Megumi Matsubara. Their built projects together include It Is a Garden (2016) in Nagano and House of 33 Years (2013) in Nara which was selected for SD Review 2010.
Ariyama currently resides and works in Tokyo.
