Embraced in Recycled Steel Toimistorakennus by Nobuaki Miyashita

Embraced in Recycled Steel Toimistorakennus by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Kultapalkinto A' Design Award in Arkkitehtuuri-, rakennus- ja rakennesuunnittelu Competition Category.

KultaArkkitehtuuri· 2025

Embraced in Recycled Steel Toimistorakennus

by Nobuaki Miyashita

Client: Kyoei Steel Ltd

Kultapalkinto A' Design Award Winner in Arkkitehtuuri Category

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The Design

About Embraced in Recycled Steel Toimistorakennus

Embraced in Recycled Steel on teräksen kierrätysyritykselle suunniteltu toimistorakennus Yamaguchissa, Japanissa. Julkisivussa on käytetty teräsaihioista inspiraationsa saanutta kerrostettua rakennetta, jonka erikoispinnoitteet luovat pintaan tekstuurivaihtelua. Sisätiloissa viimeistelymateriaaleina on käytetty kulmaterästä, lattatankoja ja harjaterästä, mikä tuo rakenteelliset elementit avoimesti näkyville. Viivakoodi- ja QR-koodiaiheet jatkuvat läpi tilojen, ja aihioiden muotoiset saumattomat LED-valaisimet on yhdistetty kattoon asennettuihin terässäleikköihin. Rakennuksessa on neljä maanpäällistä kerrosta, ja sen enimmäiskorkeus on 19,9 metriä.

The Recognition

About the Kultapalkinto A' Design Award

Embraced in Recycled Steel Toimistorakennus on Kultapalkinnon A' Design Award -voittaja, erittäin arvostettu tunnustus, joka myönnetään ensiluokkaisille, ihmeellisille ja erinomaisille designeille. Kultavoittajat ovat äärimmäisen innovatiivisia, visionäärisiä ja glamourisesti häikäiseviä luomuksia, jotka heijastavat suunnittelijoidensa nerokkuutta, viisautta ja taitavuutta. Embraced in Recycled Steel Toimistorakennus:n odotetaan olevan korkeasti ylistetty, suuntaa näyttävä ja monumentaalinen keksintö, joka tuottaa ennennäkemätöntä arvoa. Tämä Kultapalkinnon A' Design Award -voittajadesign on näyttävä, arvostettu projekti, joka hyödyttää suuresti taiteen, tieteen, designin ja teknologian rajojen laajentamista. Embraced in Recycled Steel Toimistorakennus herättää voimakasta haluamisen tunnetta, synnyttää intohimoa, rohkaisee luovuuteen ja kiehtoo meitä.

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.