Echoes Shinmachi Ĉefa Funkcio: Miksuza Konstruaĵo by Hyunsoon Park is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Arĝenta A' Design Award in Dezajno de Arkitekturo, Konstruaĵoj kaj Strukturoj Competition Category.
ArĝentoArkitekturo· 2026
Echoes Shinmachi Ĉefa Funkcio: Miksuza Konstruaĵo
Client: Kosugi Real Estate Co., Ltd.
Arĝenta A' Design Award Winner in Arkitekturo Category
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- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #176646
The Design
About Echoes Shinmachi Ĉefa Funkcio: Miksuza Konstruaĵo
Echoes Shinmachi estas miksuza konstruaĵo en Kumamoto, kiu reinterpretas tradicion per nuntempa novigo. La dezajno kombinas ferbetonon por daŭreco kun ligno por malpezeco, establante ekvilibron inter forto kaj rafineco. Loke bakita brikaĵo, metita de spertaj metiistoj, respegulas kulturan heredaĵon dum ĝi certigas rezistokapablon. Ĉiu etaĝo enhavas riverbordajn terasojn, kiuj kuraĝigas laŭsezonan engaĝiĝon kaj komunuman vivon. Per sia hibrida strukturo, materialaj kontrastoj kaj integrigo de daŭripova praktiko, la projekto staras kiel moderna emblemaĵo, kiu ponti historion.
The Recognition
About the Arĝenta A' Design Award
Echoes Shinmachi Ĉefa Funkcio: Miksuza Konstruaĵo estas gajninto de la Arĝenta A' Design Award, grandege prestiĝa rekono donata al plejklasaj, belegaj kaj impresaj dezajnoj. La Arĝentaj gajnintoj estas treege brilaj kaj treege kreemaj verkoj, kiuj ilustras la elstaran sperton, talenton kaj sagacon de siaj dezajnistoj. Oni atendas, ke Echoes Shinmachi Ĉefa Funkcio: Miksuza Konstruaĵo estu mirinda, montrinda verko, kiu estas rimarkinde profesia kaj profunde nova. Ĉi tiu dezajno gajninta la Arĝentan A' Design Award estas tre rimarkinda, admirata inventaĵo, kiu profitigas kaj antaŭenigas la limojn de arto, scienco, dezajno kaj teknologio. Echoes Shinmachi Ĉefa Funkcio: Miksuza Konstruaĵo estas vaste enviata kreaĵo, kiu vekas dezirojn, alportas pozitivajn sentojn kaj ekbrilas miron kaj mirigon.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Echoes Shinmachi is a mixed-use building in Kumamoto that reinterprets tradition through innovation. The design integrates reinforced concrete for permanence and timber for lightness, combining strength with refinement. Locally crafted brickwork connects to cultural heritage, while riverside terraces on every floor invite community interaction. Its hybrid structure, material contrast, and sustainable balance of durability and renewal distinguish it as a contemporary landmark that embodies both resilience and continuity.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Structure: Reinforced concrete and timber hybrid. Floors: B1 plus 2F. Site area: 188.17 sq.m. Building footprint: 126.09 sq.m. Total floor area: 253.63 sq.m. Roof: fluoropolymer-coated aluminum-zinc alloy steel sheet. Exterior walls: brick, exposed reinforced concrete (RC). Interior finishes: brick flooring, brick ceiling. Design period: Sept 2022 to July 2023. Construction period: Apr 2024 to Mar 2025.
- Tags
- Mixed Use Building, Hybrid Structure, Reinforced Concrete and Timber, Brick Facade, Riverside Architecture, Sustainable Design, Community Space, Kumamoto, Contemporary Japanese Architecture, Cultural Heritage
- Production Technology
- Echoes Shinmachi employs a hybrid structural system combining reinforced concrete for the basement and first floor with timber construction on the upper floor. Locally fired brick was laid by skilled craftsmen to achieve durability and warmth, while large glazed openings and cantilevered terraces required advanced structural detailing. A sustainable balance was pursued by integrating long-lasting concrete and renewable timber, ensuring resilience, cultural continuity, and a forward-looking architectural identity.
- Design Challenge
- The greatest challenge was reconciling historical continuity with modern requirements. The project had to respect Kumamoto's heritage while introducing new forms of mixed-use architecture. Externally, strict building codes and structural demands for cantilevered terraces required advanced engineering solutions. Internally, balancing durability with renewal through reinforced concrete (RC) and timber integration was complex. Overcoming these obstacles created a design rooted in tradition yet adaptable for the future.
- Research
- Type of research: architectural and cultural investigation. Objective: to integrate Kumamoto's historic riverside townscape with contemporary needs. Methodology: site surveys, archival research, and structural prototyping. Data collection: mapping riverfront use and studying traditional brickwork. Participants: local craftsmen, engineers, and community interviews. Results: a hybrid reinforced concrete (RC)-timber system and river terraces. Insights: architecture can connect heritage, sustainability, and community resilience.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for Echoes Shinmachi came from Kumamoto's historic riverside townscape and the desire to bridge tradition with contemporary life. Motivated by the memory of the city and the resilience of its people, the project reinterprets local materials and craftsmanship through modern construction. Research into hybrid structures and cultural continuity guided the design, creating a building rooted in heritage yet open to the future.
- Project Duration
- The project started in September 2022 in Kumamoto, Japan, and the design phase was completed in July 2023. Construction commenced in April 2024 and is scheduled to be completed by March 2025. Echoes Shinmachi is located along the Tsuboigawa River in the historic Shinmachi district of Kumamoto.
- Operation Flow
- Visitors experience Echoes Shinmachi through a gradual sequence of spaces. From the riverside steps, one descends into a quiet public basement with views of the flowing water. The ground floor opens to the city as retail space, encouraging everyday interaction. On the second floor, offices extend toward the river with terraces that invite gatherings and seasonal discovery. The building performs better by linking city, community, and nature in a continuous flow.
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to Hyunsoon PARK / LaundryRice Architects, 2025.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer Harunori NODA (Architectural Photographer) Ganko-sha, Echoes Shinmachi, 2025.
IP / COPYRIGHT / IMAGE / SOUND / VIDEO CREDITS: Photos © Harunori NODA, Architecture © Hyunsoon PARK / LaundryRice Architects
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