Ryokan Ohana Hotel by Uds Ltd. Wins the Golden A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design

Uds Ltd. honored for interior space and exhibition design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 19, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Golden A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category for Ryokan Ohana Hotel by Uds Ltd.. The award was conferred within 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.

What the Golden A' Design Award Means

The Gold A' Design Award is granted to designs that demonstrate a high level of innovation and a significant impact on their intended audience. Recognized as a major achievement by the A' Design Awards, these designs are characterized by their visionary approach and the exceptional skill of their creators. Winners of the Gold A' Design Award are noted for their ability to push the envelope in art, science, design, and technology, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. These designs serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging further innovation and inspiring future generations of designers.

More About Ryokan Ohana Hotel

Ryokan Ohana is a traditional inn located within a nationally designated scenic site in Yanagawa, Japan. The four-storey building has a total floor area of 3,859.95 square metres and offers 20 guest rooms in eight categories, ranging from 34 to 87 square metres. Three room types were rebuilt while preserving original floor pillars, lintels, thresholds and ceiling materials. Local crafts such as Yame lanterns, Yame stone, rush-grass tatami mats and black plaster are used. The guest rooms frame views of the restored garden and the historic residence.

About Uds Ltd.

UDS is a design firm dedicated to creating sustainable, fun and lively urban spaces by pursuing an optimum balance of social responsibility and business profitability. We are a one-stop provider of business planning, architectural design, and commercial operation services, all under one roof. Whatever the use or function, every space we create is truly unique to the community it serves, and we achieve it by integrating all aspects of the physical environment.

Award Record

Uds Ltd. is a winner of 18 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. The awards were granted between the 2020 - 2021 and the 2025 - 2026 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.

About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award

The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Typical entries include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. The awarded interior designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/interior

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/181887
A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/181887
Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!181887
Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/301823
Further Information from the Laureate: https://ohana.co.jp/en/

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: Ryokan Ohana Hotel
Function: Hotel
Category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design
Discipline: Spatial Design
Industry: Architecture and Packaging & Retail
Colors: Dark Slate Gray, Black, Dark Olive Green, Dim Gray and Dark Gray
Images: 5

The Recognition

Laureate: Uds Ltd.
Country: Japan
Recognition: Golden A' Design Award
Edition: 2025 - 2026
Design ID: #181887

Credits

Team: Yusaku Takahashi , Mao Sawada, Suzuka Kawakami / UDS Ltd. and Interior Design：Tetsuya Akaiwa, Ayaka Sato / UDS Ltd.
Image Credits: IMAGE CREDITS: Image #1 to #5:Photographer Satoshi Asakawa,2024

Design Details

Unique Properties: The Tachibana family, feudal lords of the Yanagawa Domain, lived at the Yanagawa Domain Lord Tachibana Residence, also known as Ohanaya. After the war, they converted their private residence into a ryokan complete with a restaurant. The renovated Ryokan Ohana is the Shotokan accommodation building constructed within the nationally designated site. The spatial design, based on the concept of conveying authenticity, aims to establish a lasting connection for the next 100 years.
Inspiration: The entrance has been designed to make guests feel as if they are staying in a special place, while also blending in with the neighbouring cultural site. At the front of the lobby is the restored historic Imperial Garden courtyard, which features a symbolic arrangement of stones that were used to build the cultural property. The guest rooms are arranged to provide views of the gardens and the residence beyond, further enhancing the experience of staying within a cultural heritage site.
Research: The project team researched Yanagawa's history and culture, aiming to incorporate these elements into the design to convey the region's appeal more widely.The spatial composition within the grounds was studied, with guest rooms laid out to frame views of the gardens and residences beyond the windows, creating an environment where guests can fully appreciate the value of staying within the cultural heritage site. We aim to contribute to the community and create a place cherished by many.
Challenge: Our renovation aimed to create a space where guests could experience and appreciate the authentic more profoundly. This was achieved by removing decorative elements to make the authentic stand out more prominently. The logo has been redesigned using handwritten characters by Fumiko, the 16th generation of the Tachibana family. We have also redesigned the website to convey the history of Ohanaya and the atmosphere of Yanagawa, building anticipation even before visitors arrive.
Realization and Technology: The space evokes warmth within the dignified ambience of a samurai residence, while maintaining continuity with the designated cultural assets of the grand hall and traditional restaurant. Three of the eight guest room types have been reconstructed whilst preserving original features such as the floor pillars, lintels, thresholds, and ceiling materials. These incorporate local industries and traditional crafts including Yame lanterns, Yame stone, rush-grass tatami mats, and black plaster.
Operation and Interaction: By collaborating with local artisans and businesses, we have established a system whereby the property is updated in partnership with the community whenever repairs are required. We aim to preserve traditional techniques and skills to ensure that the rich heritage and culture of Yanagawa and its surrounding areas endure for the next century. We minimise environmental impact by using natural materials and organic amenities.
Project Duration and Location: The project began in Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, in March 2023, opening on 11 January 2025. Yanagawa City is a popular tourist destination renowned for its canals and river rafting. Ohana is an accommodation facility run by the Tachibana clan, who have governed the area for over 400 years. It offers a rare opportunity to stay within the grounds of a 23,000 square metres site designated as a National Scenic Beauty.
Specifications: The four-storey hotel has a total floor area of 3,859.95 square metres. It offers 20 guest rooms, spanning eight categories and ranging in size from 34 to 87 square metres. This variety caters for a range of guests, including couples, friends, families and groups. The restaurant has been operating from this location since 1950. Seventy-five years on, the Tachibana family's story is reflected in the restaurant's locally sourced cuisine.
Keywords: Hotel, Design, Japan, History, Culture, Traditional, Fukuoka , Yanagawa, Locality, Ryokan