Yoshinogawa Valley Kev Kho Dua Tshiab Lub Tsev Hauv Paus Loj by Wataru Sato

Yoshinogawa Valley Kev Kho Dua Tshiab Lub Tsev Hauv Paus Loj by Wataru Sato is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Tooj in Tsim Vaj Tsev, Tsev thiab Qauv Tsev Competition Category.

ToojVaj Tsev· 2026

Yoshinogawa Valley Kev Kho Dua Tshiab Lub Tsev Hauv Paus Loj

by Wataru Sato

Client: KITAOKA Group

A' Design Award Tooj Winner in Vaj Tsev Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Yoshinogawa Valley Kev Kho Dua Tshiab Lub Tsev Hauv Paus Loj

Qhov project no yog kev kho dua tshiab ntawm lub tsev ua haujlwm uas muaj hnub nyoog 40 xyoo uas tsim los ntawm cov khoom npaj ua ntej, tsis muaj kev rhuav tshem. Ib qhov chaw qhib ntev 50 meter raug ntxig rau hauv nruab nrab ntawm lub tsev qub, ua raws li txoj kab hnub tuaj-hnub poob ntawm tus Dej Yoshino, uas rov npaj lub tsev ua ob sab tis mus rau qaum teb-qab teb. Muab lub npe hu ua Yoshino River Valley, qhov kev npaj chaw no yog tus txha nqaj qaum ntawm lub tsev vaj tsev. Lub qhov rais saum ru tsev uas tig mus rau qaum teb pab tau qhov kaj hnub uas ruaj khov, thaum cua ntws mus los tsis siv tshuab tsim los ntawm qhov sib txawv ntawm qhov siab thiab qhov nias. Los ntawm kev rov npaj lub tsev dua, qhov project no zam tsis pub muab cov nqi tseem ceeb uas nws txhawb nqa faib ua ob feem.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Tooj

Yoshinogawa Valley Kev Kho Dua Tshiab Lub Tsev Hauv Paus Loj yog tus yeej ntawm A' Design Award Tooj, ib qho kev lees paub muaj meej mom heev uas muab rau cov qauv tsim tshwj xeeb uas txawv los ntawm kev tsim tshiab, kev txawj tsim thiab kev ntse. Cov neeg yeej Tooj yog cov khoom muaj txuj ci heev thiab tsim tshiab heev uas ua pov thawj txog kev paub ntau, kev xav thiab kev txawj ua ntawm cov kws tsim qauv. Yoshinogawa Valley Kev Kho Dua Tshiab Lub Tsev Hauv Paus Loj xav tias yuav yog ib qho khoom uas neeg hwm, qhuas thiab hlub, uas tshaj lij heev thiab tsim tshiab. Cov qauv tsim yeej A' Design Award Tooj no siv cov kev coj ua zoo tshaj plaws ntawm kev kos duab, kev tshawb fawb, kev tsim qauv thiab thev naus laus zis thiab zoo heev vim nws saib xyuas cov ntsiab lus. Yoshinogawa Valley Kev Kho Dua Tshiab Lub Tsev Hauv Paus Loj ua tau raws li cov kev xav tau zoo kawg, kov cov kev xav, ntxias cov kev xav thiab txhawb kev xav paub.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Inspired by the Yoshinogawa River, the design translates the structure of a valley into architecture. By dividing the existing building into two volumes and inserting a linear void, a valley-like interior is created.
A 50-meter skylight brings daylight inside, while the void enables ventilation, greenery, and social interaction. This configuration integrates environmental elements into the workplace.
Through renovation, the design reinterprets an existing office and proposes a new spatial model.
Dimensions & Packaging: A valley-like void and continuous skylight are introduced at the center of a 50-meter prefabricated office building. The two-story void brings daylight to the ground floor and enhances natural ventilation.
A 7-meter Benjamin fig tree is placed at the center, visible from both levels. Planting along the void forms a layered green environment connected to the exterior.
Existing structure and finishes are retained, creating a composition where old and new materials coexist.
Tags: Prefabricated office renovation, open lounge, atrium and skylight, regional architecture, nature-inspired workspace, Yoshino River
Production Technology: The project renovates an existing prefabricated office building without demolition.
A central valley-like void integrates daylight, ventilation, and greenery. Continuous skylights provide stable north light, while passive ventilation is driven by height and pressure differences.
Spatial organization is redefined as an environmental system, reducing reliance on mechanical equipment. Existing structure and finishes are retained, forming a layered expression and a sustainable model for reuse.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was to renew the environmental and social value of a deteriorated prefabricated office without demolition or new construction.
Introducing a skylight and central void into an enclosed structure required coordination of structural, safety, and cost constraints.
Rather than relying on equipment, the design redefines spatial organization as an environmental system.
The project shows that architectural operations can generate new value within existing buildings.
Research: This research examines how renovation can achieve environmental performance comparable to new construction.
A skylight and central void introduce daylight and passive ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical systems.
Monitoring shows that artificial lighting is unnecessary during daytime and HVAC demand is reduced. Annual energy decreased by about 73,000 kWh, with savings of 65% in lighting and 30% in air conditioning.
The project presents a replicable model for sustainable renovation.
Inspiration: The project draws inspiration from the Yoshinogawa River, known as the Mother River of Tokushima.
Rather than referencing its form directly, the design interprets the river as a spatial structure.
By inserting a linear void through the existing building, the architecture transforms the logic of a valley into an interior condition, bringing light, wind, and greenery deep into the space, while also inviting relationships among people, families, and the local community.
Project Duration: The project started in January 2023 in Miyoshi Town, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, and was completed in August 2024.
Operation Flow: The building transforms a closed office into an open environment accessible to families and the local community.
The central valley acts as a social axis supporting movement, staying, and interaction. The ground floor serves as a shared space, while the upper floor provides flexible work areas.
Users are not assigned fixed workplaces but choose spaces as needed. Through everyday use, the project encourages informal encounters and redefines how work and social life coexist.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.
Image #2: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.
Image #3: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.
Image #4: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.
Image #5: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.