Norihiko Dan was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan in 1956. After graduating from School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo in 1979, Dan studied under Fumihiko Maki in a postgraduate program. He completed his Master degree at the University of Tokyo in 1982 and received Master degree at School of Architecture, Yale University in 1984. In 1986, he founded his office Norihiko Dan & Associates in Tokyo. Dan participated in creating the proposal submitted to bid for EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN. After winning the bid, he protested against plans to abandon the environmentally-friendly original design and leveling the site. Dan harshly criticized conventional development methods in Japan and paved the way to preserving the natural environment of Kaisho Forest. Recently Dan assumed the post of Master Architect to preserve the urban and natural environment of Karuizawa Town.

He developed the theory of symbiotic medium to integrate architecture and landscape. He also advocates a new street rejuvenation type of city planning with his innovative townhouse design methods.

Norihiko Dan's major works include Sun Moon Lake Visitor Center in Taiwan, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Terminal 1, Hugo Boss building on Omotesando Avenue, Tokyo and Coredo Muromachi, a rejuvenation project of Muromachi East District, Nihonbashi Tokyo. Currently he teaches urbanology at Aoyamagakuin university,Tokyo.