Press Release
F Tour Collective House by Masahiro Osaka Is Granted the Bronze A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
Masahiro Osaka acknowledged for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category for F Tour Collective House by Masahiro Osaka, designed for Seiwa Corporation Co., Ltd.. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Bronze A' Design Award
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.
About F Tour Collective House
F Tour is a collective housing building in Abiko City, Japan. The 14-story structure uses a reinforced concrete and steel hybrid frame with prefabricated modular units. Balcony depths vary from 1 to 2.5 meters, and transparent glass rails frame views toward Lake Tega. Shared floors on the ground and intermediate levels, a rooftop terrace, and observation rooms inspired by bird hides support daily contact with nature and neighbors. The layered plan links private homes, shared areas, and the surrounding city and parks.
About Masahiro Osaka
Masahiro Osaka is an architect and creative director whose work explores the relationship between architecture, community, and the surrounding environment. In his projects, he often focuses on how everyday spaces can support social interaction and respond to local landscapes. His approach places emphasis on material expression, contextual design, and the integration of sustainable principles. Observers note that his work frequently seeks to connect daily life with broader ecological and cultural contexts, proposing architectural solutions that balance functional urban living with sensitivity to place.
Award Record
With this recognition, Masahiro Osaka is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
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. The competition 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. Entries typically include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. Awarded architectural projects are published at https://designers.org/design-category/architecture
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission 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. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated 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. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates 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, the upload of a work and the 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. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/177190
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/177190
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!177190
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/374502
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
- F Tour Collective House
- Function
- Collective House
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Steel Blue, Dark Slate Blue, Black, Dark Slate Gray and Light Slate Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Seiwa Corporation Co., Ltd.
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Masahiro Osaka
- Country
- Japan
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #177190
Credits
- Team
- Hideyuki Kuroda, Naoya Kawabe, Kei Kanedo, Chisano Motohashi, KAORI, Yoichi Nakazawa and Ryu Kanari
- Image Credits
- Image : Photographer : Kiuchi Image : Video Credits : Kiuchi / Kumi / Aiko Casting : Seiwa Co., Ltd.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This residential project in Abiko redefines housing as a living landmark that seamlessly connects people, community, and nature. Inspired by bird hides, it integrates observation, shared spaces, and layered balconies to foster daily interaction with the environment. Unlike conventional housing, it merges ecological engagement, cultural heritage, and flexible communal living, creating a relational architecture that evolves with its residents and surroundings.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for this residential project in Abiko stems from a desire to reconnect contemporary urban life with the natural and cultural heritage of the region. Abiko's unique topography, its ridge flanked by the Tone River and Lake Tega, and its history as a haven for writers, artists, and thinkers presented an opportunity to design a building that serves not only as a dwelling but as a bridge between people, place, and nature. The concept was born from observing the harmonious coexistence of humans and their environment in historical and natural contexts.
- Research
- This project investigates how collective housing can integrate historical, ecological, and social contexts. Through site analysis, community workshops, and observational design inspired by bird hides, residents engage with nature and culture daily. The research demonstrates that thoughtfully designed residential spaces can enhance social interaction, reconnect people with local landscapes, preserve cultural memory, and create sustainable urban landmarks that enrich everyday life.
- Challenge
- Balancing urban density with ecological and social connectivity, the project addressed the challenge of integrating a living residential landmark within Abiko's historical and cultural context. Key obstacles included preserving Lake Tega's landscape and cultural memory, complying with zoning regulations, ensuring constructability, and designing shared and private spaces that foster community while harmonizing with nature.
- Realization and Technology
- The complex employs reinforced concrete and steel-frame hybrid construction with prefabricated modular units. Deep-set balconies and transparent glass rails were precision-fabricated for spatial articulation. Parametric modeling guided facade variation, while sustainable materials and passive design strategies optimize environmental performance.
- Operation and Interaction
- Residents move through layered spaces that connect private homes, shared areas, and the surrounding city. Balconies, terraces, and observation rooms let people interact with nature and each other daily. Workshops and open spaces encourage community events. Key moments occur at the rooftop, shared kitchens, and bird hide rooms, where people engage, observe, and connect. The design performs better by blending living, learning, and social activity, making everyday life richer and more sustainable.
- Project Duration and Location
- Project Duration and Location Completion: 2024 Location: Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan Operation / Interaction / Key Features Residents experience everyday life connected to nature and community. Balconies, shared spaces, and rooftop areas encourage social interaction, observation of Lake Tega, and flexible use. The design adapts to diverse activities, enhancing daily comfort, engagement, and well-being.
- Specifications
- The project occupies a 535.75 m2 site with a maximum height of 46.025 m, comprising a 14-story reinforced concrete structure. Building dimensions reach 20.365 m (long) and 12.155 m (short). Balconies vary in depth from 1 m to 2.5 m, enabling diverse lifestyles. Accessible shared floors on the ground and intermediate levels, along with a rooftop terrace, seamlessly connect the building to adjacent streets and parks, enhancing interaction with the environment and creating dynamic spatial experiences.
- Keywords
- Bird Hide, Nature Observation Housing, Landscape Preservation, Community Living, Sustainable Architecture, Urban-Nature Integration, Shared Spaces, Residential Landmark, Eco-Friendly Design, Biophilic Architecture
