Echoes Shinmachi Nag-unang Gamit: Building nga Adunay Sagol nga Paggamit by Hyunsoon Park

Echoes Shinmachi Nag-unang Gamit: Building nga Adunay Sagol nga Paggamit by Hyunsoon Park is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award nga Pilak in Disenyo sa Arkitektura, Gambalay ug Estruktura Competition Category.

PilakArkitektura· 2026

Echoes Shinmachi Nag-unang Gamit: Building nga Adunay Sagol nga Paggamit

by Hyunsoon Park

Client: Kosugi Real Estate Co., Ltd.

A' Design Award nga Pilak Winner in Arkitektura Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Echoes Shinmachi Nag-unang Gamit: Building nga Adunay Sagol nga Paggamit

Teksto sa Libro: Ang Echoes Shinmachi usa ka building nga adunay sagol nga paggamit sa Kumamoto nga naghubad pag-usab sa tradisyon pinaagi sa kontemporaryong inobasyon. Ang disenyo naghiusa sa reinforced concrete alang sa kalig-on ug sa kahoy alang sa kagaan, nga nagtukod ug balanse tali sa kusog ug pagkapino. Ang lokal nga gilutong tisa, gipahimutang sa mga hanas nga artesano, nagpakita sa kultural nga panulundon samtang nagsiguro sa pagkalig-on. Ang matag salog nag-apil sa mga terraza sa daplin sa suba nga nag-awhag sa seasonal nga pag-apil ug kinabuhi sa komunidad. Pinaagi sa hybrid nga istruktura niini, sa kalainan sa mga materyales, ug sa pag-integrate sa malungtarong buhat, ang proyekto nagbarug isip usa ka modernong landmark nga nagtaytay sa kasaysayan.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award nga Pilak

Echoes Shinmachi Nag-unang Gamit: Building nga Adunay Sagol nga Paggamit usa ka mananaog sa A' Design Award nga Pilak, usa ka talagsaon kaayo nga prestihiyoso nga pag-ila nga gihatag sa labing taas nga lebel, matahom, ug makadani nga mga disenyo. Ang mga mananaog sa Pilak labihan ka hayag ug mamugnaon nga mga buhat nga nagpakita sa bantogan nga kahanas, talento, ug kamatngon sa ilang mga tigdesinyo. Gilauman nga ang Echoes Shinmachi Nag-unang Gamit: Building nga Adunay Sagol nga Paggamit mahimong talagsaon nga buhat nga ipasigarbo, dako ang pagkapropesyonal ug lawom ang kabag-ohan. Kini nga disenyo nga nakadaog og A' Design Award nga Pilak usa ka labihan ka mamatikdan, gihangaan nga imbento nga mapuslanon ug nagpalapad sa mga utlanan sa arte, siyensya, disenyo, ug teknolohiya. Echoes Shinmachi Nag-unang Gamit: Building nga Adunay Sagol nga Paggamit usa ka paglalang nga giinggit sa daghan, nga nagpukaw og mga tinguha, nagdala og positibo nga mga pagbati, ug nagsiga sa katingala ug paghangyo.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Echoes Shinmachi is a mixed-use building in Kumamoto that reinterprets tradition through innovation. The design integrates reinforced concrete for permanence and timber for lightness, combining strength with refinement. Locally crafted brickwork connects to cultural heritage, while riverside terraces on every floor invite community interaction. Its hybrid structure, material contrast, and sustainable balance of durability and renewal distinguish it as a contemporary landmark that embodies both resilience and continuity.
Dimensions & Packaging: Structure: Reinforced concrete and timber hybrid. Floors: B1 plus 2F. Site area: 188.17 sq.m. Building footprint: 126.09 sq.m. Total floor area: 253.63 sq.m. Roof: fluoropolymer-coated aluminum-zinc alloy steel sheet. Exterior walls: brick, exposed reinforced concrete (RC). Interior finishes: brick flooring, brick ceiling. Design period: Sept 2022 to July 2023. Construction period: Apr 2024 to Mar 2025.
Tags: Mixed Use Building, Hybrid Structure, Reinforced Concrete and Timber, Brick Facade, Riverside Architecture, Sustainable Design, Community Space, Kumamoto, Contemporary Japanese Architecture, Cultural Heritage
Production Technology: Echoes Shinmachi employs a hybrid structural system combining reinforced concrete for the basement and first floor with timber construction on the upper floor. Locally fired brick was laid by skilled craftsmen to achieve durability and warmth, while large glazed openings and cantilevered terraces required advanced structural detailing. A sustainable balance was pursued by integrating long-lasting concrete and renewable timber, ensuring resilience, cultural continuity, and a forward-looking architectural identity.
Design Challenge: The greatest challenge was reconciling historical continuity with modern requirements. The project had to respect Kumamoto's heritage while introducing new forms of mixed-use architecture. Externally, strict building codes and structural demands for cantilevered terraces required advanced engineering solutions. Internally, balancing durability with renewal through reinforced concrete (RC) and timber integration was complex. Overcoming these obstacles created a design rooted in tradition yet adaptable for the future.
Research: Type of research: architectural and cultural investigation. Objective: to integrate Kumamoto's historic riverside townscape with contemporary needs. Methodology: site surveys, archival research, and structural prototyping. Data collection: mapping riverfront use and studying traditional brickwork. Participants: local craftsmen, engineers, and community interviews. Results: a hybrid reinforced concrete (RC)-timber system and river terraces. Insights: architecture can connect heritage, sustainability, and community resilience.
Inspiration: The inspiration for Echoes Shinmachi came from Kumamoto's historic riverside townscape and the desire to bridge tradition with contemporary life. Motivated by the memory of the city and the resilience of its people, the project reinterprets local materials and craftsmanship through modern construction. Research into hybrid structures and cultural continuity guided the design, creating a building rooted in heritage yet open to the future.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2022 in Kumamoto, Japan, and the design phase was completed in July 2023. Construction commenced in April 2024 and is scheduled to be completed by March 2025. Echoes Shinmachi is located along the Tsuboigawa River in the historic Shinmachi district of Kumamoto.
Operation Flow: Visitors experience Echoes Shinmachi through a gradual sequence of spaces. From the riverside steps, one descends into a quiet public basement with views of the flowing water. The ground floor opens to the city as retail space, encouraging everyday interaction. On the second floor, offices extend toward the river with terraces that invite gatherings and seasonal discovery. The building performs better by linking city, community, and nature in a continuous flow.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Hyunsoon PARK / LaundryRice Architects, 2025.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.

IP / COPYRIGHT / IMAGE / SOUND / VIDEO CREDITS: Photos © Harunori NODA, Architecture © Hyunsoon PARK / LaundryRice Architects