Director - China

BArch, AIA, JAA

Beijing, China

Satoshi Ohashi

Photograph by Frederic Aranda ©

About Satoshi

Satoshi Ohashi is a Director and Head of China at ZHA and oversees the practice’s Beijing office. His collaboration with ZHA began in 1987, joining as the burgeoning studio’s fifth member.

Courtesy of ZHA, render by MIR

Start-up exhibition and conference centre

Profile

In 1988, Satoshi established ZHA’s Tokyo office, contributing significantly to the practice’s early works in Asia, including the Tomigaya Building, Azabu-Jyuban, and Moonsoon Restaurant. Satoshi relocated to Beijing, where he began collaborating with SOHO China and established ZHA’s Beijing office in 2008. 


In response to China’s rapid growth, Satoshi has directed numerous large-scale projects, including Leeza SOHO, Galaxy SOHO, and Daxing Airport. His portfolio includes major developments such as Tower C at Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base and the Capital International Exhibition & Convention Centre.


Satoshi has played an instrumental role in ZHA’s continuous research and development since its pre-digital era. He leads the Beijing office with optimism and passion, facilitating an environment where ideas and designs evolve through sketching, experimentation and team collaboration.


Prior to joining ZHA, Satoshi spent his formative years in Japan and New York, and worked globally across New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo. 

Courtesy of Brick Visual

Featured Projects

Key Projects

From a tower's design that divides its volume into two halves enclosed by a single facade shell, to a design that integrates a tower into the city and nature within its central green axis, discover highlights of Satoshi's most notable projects at ZHA.

Education & Professional Philosophy

Satoshi completed his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan in the US and pursued graduate studies at the University of Illinois in Chicago and in Versailles, France.


Satoshi has lectured at prestigious universities worldwide, including Tsinghua University in Beijing, Tongji University in Shanghai, the Architectural Association (AA) in London, and Yale University in the US. He also addressed the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan, participated in the exhibition, and served as a Selection Committee Juror and visiting critic at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts.


Born in Osaka and raised in New York City, Satoshi holds an appreciation for Japanese tradition and craftsmanship and vibrant contemporary urban environments, both of which profoundly influence his architectural thinking. His work reflects a deep understanding of the balance between nature and humanity, and the connection between history and possibilities for the future.