Press Release
Urban Prism House by Nobuaki Miyashita Receives the Bronze A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
Nobuaki Miyashita of Mr Studio recognized for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 19, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Urban Prism House by Nobuaki Miyashita of Mr Studio, designed for Aida Sekkei Co., Ltd., has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. The result belongs to the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The Bronze A' Design Award Explained
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Regarding Urban Prism House
Urban Prism is a three-story house built in a dense urban area of Tokyo, Japan. The wood structure covers a total floor area of 127.82 square meters on a site of 100.13 square meters. Boundary walls and a gate form a buffer zone that brings light and air into the interior. A courtyard extends the living room outdoors, and adjustable screens control privacy and daylight. Textured fiber cement siding clads the exterior, while oak flooring, steel and glass shape the interior. The sculptural form responds to local height and setback regulations.
About Mr Studio
An architectural firm based in Japan that designs various types of buildings, including residential homes, commercial facilities, hotels, offices, factories, and schools.
Award Record
Nobuaki Miyashita of Mr Studio is a winner of 10 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. The awards were granted between the 2023 - 2024 and the 2024 - 2025 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award
The A' Architecture Design Award is an international architectural design competition recognizing good architectural designs by best architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to architectural design studios, building contractors, structural engineering firms and architecture and design consultants from all countries. Typical entries include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. The awarded architectural projects are published at https://designers.org/design-category/architecture
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/171578
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/171578
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!171578
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/353711
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.mrstudio.biz
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Urban Prism House
- Function
- House
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Cornflower Blue, Dark Slate Gray, Sky Blue, Black and Silver
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Aida Sekkei Co., Ltd.
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Nobuaki Miyashita
- Country
- Japan
- Brand
- Mr Studio
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #171578
Credits
- Image Credits
- Image #1, #2,#3, #4, #5: Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita, Variations, 2019
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Urban Prism balances privacy and openness in a dense urban setting. The design utilizes boundary walls and a gate to create a buffer zone filled with light and air, seamlessly connecting the interior and exterior. Japan’s strict height and setback regulations shaped its refined, sculptural form. A courtyard extends the living space, while adjustable screens regulate privacy and daylight. Black bamboo and upward lighting enhance the entrance, evoking a Japanese aesthetic.
- Inspiration
- The project transforms zoning constraints into design potential, integrating privacy, natural light, and spatial expansion. The home’s multi-layered structure fosters an interplay between openness and enclosure, adapting flexibly to its surroundings. Carefully arranged volumes and walls create a dynamic sequence of spaces. The design embraces traditional Japanese elements, reinterpreted through contemporary architectural language to enhance urban living.
- Research
- Type of Research: Architectural design research Research Objectives: Optimization of urban housing through spatial and environmental adaptability Methodology: Model testing, daylight and airflow simulations Data Collection: On-site analysis, material performance tests Results: Established a refined approach to urban privacy, integrating zoning constraints into design solutions
- Challenge
- The greatest challenge was balancing privacy and openness within strict urban zoning constraints. Japan’s stringent height and setback regulations required innovative volumetric manipulation to maximize livable space. Socially, the project had to address urban density while maintaining tranquility. Externally, material selection was limited by durability and maintenance concerns. Advanced simulations optimized daylight and airflow, ensuring a harmonious spatial experience.
- Realization and Technology
- The house employs durable materials suited to urban environments. Textured fiber cement siding accentuates light and shadow interplay, reinforcing depth. The interior harmonizes solid wood, steel, and glass, blending modernity with warmth. Oak flooring enhances the tactile experience. High-performance insulated glass and movable screens optimize daylight, ventilation, and privacy. The exterior cladding ensures longevity, requiring minimal maintenance over time.
- Operation and Interaction
- Smooth circulation and spatial layering create a dynamic living experience. The atrium channels natural light and air throughout the house, shifting in ambiance with time. Adjustable screens and staggered walls allow residents to control privacy and exposure. The courtyard functions as an outdoor extension of the living room, enhancing spatial fluidity. Black bamboo and illuminated surfaces establish a serene entryway, linking nature with contemporary design.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project was completed in 2019 in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.
- Specifications
- Site Area: 100.13 Square meters Building Area: 57.64 Square meters Total Floor Area: 127.82 Square meters Structure: Wood Number of Floors: 3 above ground Eaves Height: 8.53 m Ceiling Height: 2.50 m
- Keywords
- architecture, house, urban design, natural light, spatial composition, sustainable living
