Kinuta Balay nga Puy-anan by Nobuaki Miyashita

Kinuta Balay nga Puy-anan by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award nga Bronse in Disenyo sa Arkitektura, Gambalay ug Estruktura Competition Category.

BronseArkitektura· 2026

Kinuta Balay nga Puy-anan

by Nobuaki Miyashita

Client: AIDA SEKKEI Co., Ltd.

A' Design Award nga Bronse Winner in Arkitektura Category

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Colors

The Design

About Kinuta Balay nga Puy-anan

Ang Kinuta usa ka balay nga puy-anan nga gitukod sa usa ka pig-ot nga urban nga luna sa Tokyo, Japan. Ang site adunay gilapdon nga 3.6 m, ug ang mga lagda sa setback nagpakunhod sa epektibong atubangan ngadto sa ubos sa 2.6 m. Ang lugar sa sala, kan-anan, ug kusina gibutang sa ikaduhang andana aron makabaton og privacy ug kahayag sa adlaw gikan sa habagatan. Ang usa ka natakuban nga courtyard nga adunay timber deck ug mga green wall nga gitamnan naghimo sa setback zone ngadto sa usa ka hilom nga outdoor nga lawak. Ang entrada, koridor, ug hagdanan naghulma og linear nga han-ay nga nagpasiugda sa giladmon. Ang itom nga ceramic siding nga adunay dry joint system nagpabilin nga padayon ang mga joint sa facade, lakip na sa mga eskina.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award nga Bronse

Kinuta Balay nga Puy-anan usa ka mananaog sa A' Design Award nga Bronse, usa ka labihan ka prestihiyoso nga pag-ila nga gihatag sa talagsaon nga mga disenyo nga gipaila sa pagkamamugnaon, kaabtik, ug kamatngon. Ang mga mananaog sa Bronse mga hanas kaayo ug makapahibulong nga mamugnaon nga mga artipakto nga nagpamatuod sa dakong kasinatian, imahinasyon, ug kaabtik sa ilang mga tigdesinyo. Gilauman nga ang Kinuta Balay nga Puy-anan mahimong gipabilhan, gihangaan, ug gihigugma nga butang nga talagsaon ang pagkapropesyonal ug bag-o. Kini nga disenyo nga nakadaog og A' Design Award nga Bronse naglakip sa labing maayong mga praktis sa arte, siyensya, disenyo, ug teknolohiya ug maayo kaayo tungod sa pagtagad niini sa mga detalye. Kinuta Balay nga Puy-anan nagtagbaw sa mga panginahanglan sa matahom nga paagi, nag-igo sa mga tinguha, nagbihag sa mga pagbati, ug nagdani sa pagkamausisaon.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: A premium residence for a family of three on an "eel's bed" plot. Although the site is 3.6 m wide, setback rules reduce the effective frontage to under 2.6 m. The LDK is lifted to the second floor for privacy and southern daylight, while a walled courtyard with a timber deck and green walls turns the setback zone into a calm outdoor room. A continuous frame integrates the boundary wall, balcony, and eaves, giving a strong identity to a minimal frontage.
Dimensions & Packaging: Site area 54.97 m2. Building area 27.48 m2. Total floor area 54.96 m2. Building frontage 2680 mm. Long narrow site approx. 3.6 m by 15 m. Eaves height from design GL 6.810 m. Main living, dining, and kitchen on the second floor. Courtyard and deck within the setback zone.
Tags: Narrow House, Urban Infill, Courtyard, Setback Strategy, Second Floor Living, Privacy and Daylight, Dry Joint Facade, Compact Residence, Tokyo Housing
Production Technology: The exterior uses dark ceramic siding designed for a dry joint system. The panel module and joint layout were coordinated from the early design stage to keep the joint rhythm continuous, including at corners. A white post and nameplate, together with dark metal fittings, are composed as sharp accents. Inside, the courtyard deck and planted green walls form a durable interface between interior life and an outdoor retreat.
Design Challenge: The hardest challenge was achieving comfort and dignity within severe statutory limits. Facing a 4 m wide road, the building was tightly controlled by slant plane and setback regulations, with no relaxation available and sky factor use not permitted. At the same time, close neighbors required strong privacy. The design responds by lifting the LDK, inserting a walled courtyard, and refining facade joints to maintain architectural tension at a very small scale.
Research: ype of research: Applied design research for compact housing. Objective: Maximize daylight, privacy, and perceived spaciousness under strict setback rules. Methodology: Iterative massing studies, section checks, and module studies for dry joint cladding. Tools: Sketches, scaled models, and CAD. Results: A second floor LDK and a setback courtyard that add light and a private outdoor room, plus a facade with a continuous joint rhythm. Impacts: A transferable approach for premium living on narrow urban plots.
Inspiration: The project was driven by a question: how can a very narrow house feel generous without relying on tricks? In dense Tokyo neighborhoods, privacy and sunlight are often traded off. By moving the living spaces upward and carving a courtyard within the regulatory setback, the house gains light, air, and a personal exterior space. The facade detailing was inspired by product-like precision, with dry-joint planning from the earliest design stage to keep corners crisp.
Project Duration: Designed and completed in Setagaya (Kinuta), Tokyo, Japan.
Operation Flow: A linear sequence begins at the entrance and continues as a corridor and stair, emphasizing depth on the narrow plot. Arrival to the second floor LDK opens to southern light and a private courtyard. Daily living extends to the timber deck and green walls. The continuous frame unifies the balcony, eaves, and boundary wall, defining the home's compact yet premium character.
Patents: All images and project content are Nobuaki Miyashita / MR STUDIO Co.,Ltd.
Image Credits: Image #1: Nobuaki Miyashita
Image #2: Nobuaki Miyashita
Image #3: Nobuaki Miyashita
Image #4: Nobuaki Miyashita
Image #5: Nobuaki Miyashita