Embraced in Recycled Steel Bürogebäude by Nobuaki Miyashita

Embraced in Recycled Steel Bürogebäude by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award in Gold in Architektur-, Gebäude- und Bauwerksdesign Competition Category.

GoldArchitektur· 2025

Embraced in Recycled Steel Bürogebäude

by Nobuaki Miyashita

Client: Kyoei Steel Ltd

A' Design Award in Gold Winner in Architektur Category

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The Design

About Embraced in Recycled Steel Bürogebäude

„Embraced in Recycled Steel" ist ein Bürogebäude für ein Stahlrecyclingunternehmen in Yamaguchi, Japan. Die Fassade greift eine gestapelte Struktur auf, die von Stahlknüppeln inspiriert ist, wobei spezielle Beschichtungen für texturelle Variationen sorgen. Im Innenraum dienen Winkelstahl, Flachstahl und Betonrippenstahl als Oberflächenmaterialien, wodurch die konstruktiven Elemente offen sichtbar bleiben. Barcode- und QR-Code-Motive ziehen sich durch die Räume, und fugenlose LED-Leuchten in Knüppelform werden an der Decke mit Stahllamellen kombiniert. Das Gebäude verfügt über vier oberirdische Geschosse und eine maximale Höhe von 19,9 Metern.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Gold

Embraced in Recycled Steel Bürogebäude ist Gewinner des A' Design Award in Gold, einer überaus prestigeträchtigen Anerkennung für erstklassige, wunderbare und herausragende Designs. Gold-Gewinner sind äußerst innovative, visionäre und glamourös blendende Schöpfungen, die das Genie, die Weisheit und die Meisterschaft ihrer Designer widerspiegeln. Von Embraced in Recycled Steel Bürogebäude wird erwartet, dass es eine hochgepriesene, trendsetzende und monumentale Erfindung ist, die beispiellosen Mehrwert liefert. Dieses mit dem A' Design Award in Gold prämierte Design ist ein spektakuläres, respektiertes Projekt, das den Grenzen von Kunst, Wissenschaft, Design und Technologie in hohem Maße zugutekommt und sie voranbringt. Embraced in Recycled Steel Bürogebäude erzeugt intensive Gefühle des Verlangens, weckt Leidenschaft, ermutigt zur Kreativität und fasziniert uns.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Kyoei Steel recycles steel scrap using electric furnaces. The new Yamaguchi office themed An Office Embraced in Recycled Steel embodies this transformation. The exterior draws from stacked billets while the interior uses locally sourced angle steel and rebars. Barcode and QR code designs extend through office spaces, harmonizing steel and light. The lighting design transforms these patterns into three dimensional forms, adding depth and movement, symbolizing Kyoei Steel’s identity and vision.
Dimensions & Packaging: Site Area: 108,045.44 Square meters
Building Area: 1,091.12 Square meters
Total Floor Area: 3,931.89 Square meters
Structure: RC
Number of Floors: 4 above ground
Maximum Height: 19.9 m
Eaves Height: 16.5 m
Floor Height: 3.9 m
Ceiling Height: 2.9 m
Tags: architecture, office, lighting design, recycled steel, sustainable design
Production Technology: The building’s exterior adopts a stacked structure inspired by Kyoei Steel’s billets, with special coatings creating textural variations symbolizing recycling. The interior features angle steel, flat bars, and deformed steel bars as finish materials, bringing typically hidden structural elements into the architectural expression. The lighting design integrates seamless LED fixtures shaped like billets, harmonizing with steel louvers on the ceiling for a cohesive lighting environment.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was to create an architecture that symbolizes the company’s identity without compromising factory functionality. The project required extensive testing to utilize steel materials not only structurally but also aesthetically. Special focus was given to the QR code-inspired vertical design and lighting integration, which underwent multiple prototypes and refinements to achieve the desired effect.
Research: Type of Research: Architectural design research
Research Objectives: Exploring recycled steel’s potential in architecture
Methodology: Material analysis and spatial testing
Data Collection: Mock-ups and lighting simulations
Participants: Designers, engineers, technical experts
Results: The building serves as a showroom, demonstrating recycled steel’s architectural potential
Impact: Set a benchmark for sustainable design while enhancing corporate branding and public awareness
Inspiration: The design reflects the process of transforming recycled scrap metal into new steel products, embodying Kyoei Steel’s commitment to sustainability. The stacked billet-inspired structure symbolizes the recycling and regeneration of steel resources, visually expressing the company's dedication. The interior incorporates the company’s own steel materials, such as angle steel, rebars, and flat bars, ensuring their strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal are fully showcased throughout the space.
Project Duration: The project commenced in early 2022 in Yamaguchi, Japan, with design and planning phases focused on integrating Kyoei Steel’s identity into the architecture. Construction began in mid-2023, aiming to unify office functions while enhancing operational efficiency and employee engagement. The office was completed in early 2024, creating a sustainable workspace that embodies the company’s commitment to steel recycling and innovation.
Operation Flow: This building visualizes Kyoei Steel’s recycling process, transforming the journey of recycled scrap metal into an architectural experience. The stacked billet-inspired exterior symbolizes material circulation, while the interior features angle steel and deformed bars as finish materials. The stairwell integrates a QR code motif with lighting, creating an interplay of steel and light that intuitively communicates the company’s technology and commitment to sustainability.
Patents: N/A
Team Members: N/A
Image Credits: Image #1,#3,#4 : Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita Variations, 2024
Image #2,#5 : Photographer Sato Kenta, Variations, 2024.