ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Golden A' Design Award in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Products Design Competition Category.
GoldHVAC· 2026
ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner
by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)
Client: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd.
Golden A' Design Award Winner in HVAC Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #177241The Design
About ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner
The wall mounted residential air conditioner blends elegant design with advanced engineering. It features a soft, veil like front panel that flows smoothly from the top. Refined edge lines and smooth surfaces contribute to a discreet, seamless appearance with hidden screws and a box like form that blends naturally into its surroundings. Despite its compact size, the unit delivers powerful performance. The fan uses aerodynamic technology to generate strong airflow while maintaining low noise.
The Recognition
About the Golden A' Design Award
ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner is a Golden A' Design Award winner, an immensely prestigious recognition granted to first-rate, marvelous, and outstanding designs. Golden winners are exceedingly innovative, visionary, and glamorously dazzling creations that reflect the prodigy, wisdom, and prowess of their designers. ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner is expected to be a highly praised, trendsetting, and monumental invention that delivers unprecedented value. This Golden A' Design Award-winning design is a spectacular, respected project that highly benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner creates intense feelings of desire, evokes passion, encourages creativity, and fascinates us.
Interviews
Grand Interview
The veil-like front panel of the ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner is a genuinely captivating design choice, one that transforms what is typically a utilitarian appliance into something that feels naturally at home within a contemporary living space. What was the story behind the decision to pursue this soft, flowing aesthetic for the ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner, and how did the team navigate the tension between achieving that seamless visual language and the very real engineering demands of housing a high-performance climate system within such a refined, screw-free exterior?
The decision to adopt an understated, yet crisp aesthetic for the ZT Series was driven by our desire to elevate the air conditioner from a purely functional appliance to an integral, harmonious element within living spaces. Homes increasingly favour minimalistic and refined interiors, and we wanted the ZT Series to complement that environment—not just blend in, but to add an element of charm.Balancing this seamless exterior with the rigorous engineering requirements of a high-performance climate system was a significant challenge. Our design and engineering teams collaborated closely together to optimize internal structural components, ensuring sufficient strength and durability without compromising serviceability. We employed modular design principles and innovative joining techniques that allowed us to maintain the clean, uninterrupted surface while accommodating the complex mechanical components inside. This joint effort resulted in a design that visually embodies airflow and lightness, achieving both aesthetic elegance and technical excellence.
Indoor air quality has become one of the most pressing concerns for families globally, particularly in dense urban environments where residents spend the majority of their time indoors. How does the ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner address these concerns through its allergen filtration system and optional ion generator, and in what ways do you believe this approach to air quality management reflects a broader responsibility that residential HVAC designers carry toward the long-term health of the people who live with their products every day?
The ZT Series addresses the critical issue of indoor air quality—especially relevant in dense urban environments—through a high-performance multi-layer allergen filtration system, designed to effectively capture pollen, dust and fine particulate matter. Additionally, the optional ion generator further enhances air purification by neutralizing airborne viruses and harmful substances, thereby creating a cleaner and healthier indoor atmosphere.We recognize that our responsibility extends far beyond temperature control; we are custodians of the health and well-being of users who engage with our products daily. The air quality management features of the ZT Series embody this commitment, reflecting a holistic approach that prioritizes long-term health benefits and improved quality of life for families worldwide.
The achievement of a sound pressure level as low as 19 dB(A) in ultra-low mode for the ZT Series Residential Air Conditioner is genuinely remarkable, particularly given the unit's compact dimensions and powerful output. Could you walk us through the aerodynamic engineering behind the newly developed fan that made this level of acoustic performance possible, and what does reaching near-silence in a residential climate system mean for how people experience the quality of their own living environments in practical, everyday terms?
Achieving an ultra-low noise level of 19 dB(A) in a compact yet powerful unit was a significant engineering challenge, addressed through aerodynamic refinement of the fan blades and precise speed control to minimize turbulence and vortex formation—primary sources of noise. Complementing this, the newly designed air outlet enables airflow to reach up to 11 meters, allowing for more powerful and efficient distribution of cool or warm air. This optimized airflow path also reduces air resistance and noise, further enhancing the unit’s near-silent operation.From the user’s perspective, such near-silence profoundly elevates the quality of the living environment by eliminating distractions that could disrupt sleep, conversation, or concentration. Quiet operation thus transcends convenience to become a vital contributor to comfort and wellbeing in everyday life.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The wall-mounted residential air-conditioner blends elegant design with advanced engineering. It features a soft veil-like front panel that flows smoothly from the top. Refined edge lines and smooth surfaces contribute to a discreet, seamless appearance with hidden screws and a box-like form that blends naturally into its surroundings. Despite its compact size, the unit delivers powerful performance. The fan uses aerodynamic technology to generate strong airflow while maintaining low noise.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Indoor unit dimensions (H×W×D): 290 × 870 × 230 mm
- Tags
- residential air-conditioning, climate-solution, low global warming potential, longevity
- Production Technology
- The unit is designed in Japan and manufactured at our factory in Thailand.
The compressor is produced using abrasive machining with micron-level precision, and the copper heat exchanger is assembled using expert welding techniques.
The unit is tested to ensure it is validated for around 10 years under various environmental conditions. In mass production, every single unit is tested for both cooling and heating functions, and test results are thoroughly recorded for consistent quality control. - Design Challenge
- One of the key challenges in development was to create a high-density design that balances a compact size with easy servicing and efficient manufacturing.
The overall unit size was kept the same as existing models to ensure compatibility with current installation spaces, which are often limited in the field. At the same time, we reserved space inside the unit for optional parts, while still managing to improve performance and reduce noise in the remaining space. - Research
- We also went beyond technical comparison by engaging in direct conversations with professional installers—the people who work closely with both customers and the product in real-world conditions. This field-based approach helped us understand actual needs during installation and daily use. As a result, we were able to shape the design to be more practical, user-friendly, and effective, while still maintaining high technical performance and a clean, modern appearance.
- Inspiration
- The unit was designed to blend naturally into living spaces without being obstructive. Thanks to improvements in the components, its seasonal efficiency has been enhanced. It can also continue heating even when the outdoor temperature drops to -20°C. To enhance practicality, we worked closely with installers, resulting in easily removable panels for pipe routing and a detachable fan, making maintenance simpler and the design visually clean.
- Project Duration
- The unit was developed over several years.
We gathered feedback of unit design from various countries, including input from people in sales, installation, service and marketing roles. The most important requests were carefully selected and integrated into the final product design.
During development, prototypes were created in multiple stages, and performance and quality were checked at each step to make sure the product would be reliable and durable. - Operation Flow
- The unit is highly energy-efficient and silent, with a sound pressure level as low as 19 dB(A) in ultra-low mode—equivalent to the sound of rustling leaves. The newly developed fan contributes to this silence. For user convenience, the unit can be operated using a dedicated smartphone app. The system features three separate motors to independently control both the vertical and horizontal louvers, allowing precise airflow direction. To improve indoor air quality, the unit is equipped with an original "Allergen Clear Filter," and in some models, an ion generator is also included.
- Patents
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd.
- Team Members
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)
- Image Credits
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd.
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
