Takako Tajima

Takako Tajima is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and dual Master’s degrees in Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning from Harvard University. Her work bridges architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design, emphasizing public spaces, historical context, and sustainable urban development.

At USC, she teaches graduate design studios, undergraduate GeoDesign courses, and coordinates the Asian Architecture and Landscape Urbanism study abroad program. Her research focuses on integrating historical narratives into urban landscapes and maximizing public realm spaces amid urban density. She has received prestigious awards including the Architecture League Prize and LaFargeHolcim Foundation’s Global Gold Prize.

Tajima’s courses explore design methodologies across scales, from site-specific interventions to urban systems, and emphasize field studies to understand spatial and infrastructural dynamics. Her academic contributions include fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on design’s role in preserving cultural heritage while addressing modern urban challenges.