Prof. Takeshi Maruyama first joined AUD as an adjunct instructor in January 2013 and became a fulltime Assistant Professor in September 2014.   He had been working for ‘Takenaka Corporation’, one of the biggest design-built companies in Japan, as an architect for 10 years. In 2006 he moved to Dubai and joined a local architectural design firm ‘dxb.lab architecture’. Following five years of work with the firm, he launched his own practice ‘takeshi maruyama design unit’ in 2011. In parallel, he is working with another local architectural design firm ‘Archidenty’, as an associate architect.   Prof. Maruyama is involved in various projects; not only for architectural design but also for interior design. A multi-purpose networking space ‘Shelter’ in Al Quoz, and Book Café ‘The Archive’ in Safa Park can represent his works - featured in several magazines such as ‘Commercial Interior Design’ and ‘Timeout Dubai’. The Archive was introduced as a model of renovation at UAE pavilion in Venice Biennale 2014. He is currently expanding the range of activities to countries such as Qatar and India.   As a 20 years-practicing architect, his capability can cover all phases of architectural design, from concept design to site supervision. Originating from Japanese craftsperson-ship, his specialty and belief are in detail design. Prof. Maruyama is registered as a first-class architect in Japan, is a registered architect in UAE, and a member of the Society of Engineers UAE.   As a pioneer independent Japanese architect in Dubai, he has posted several articles in the Japanese architectural magazine ‘Nikkei Architecture’. In 2007 he published the article ‘Comparison of Design Progress between Dubai and Japan’, and in 2010 he reported Burj Khalifa from an architectural point of view. In 2009, he was featured by a Japanese NHK TV program ‘First Japanese’ as a first Japanese architect working for a local company. In addition, in 2009 he was invited to make a series of lectures about Dubai in Japan.   One of his main interests is how to culturally connect Japan to the Middle East.   Prof. Maruyama says: “Journey is important to reboot my brain and learn from the existing world. Watching movies or diving is another peaceful journey as well.”

 Architecture