Press Release
Nobuaki Miyashita Receives the Golden A' Design Award for Embraced in Recycled Steel Office in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Nobuaki Miyashita of Mr Studio for architecture, building and structure design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 19, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Embraced in Recycled Steel Office by Nobuaki Miyashita of Mr Studio, designed for Kyoei Steel Ltd, has been granted the Golden A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. The recognition forms part of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated 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 Embraced in Recycled Steel Office
Embraced in Recycled Steel is an office building for a steel recycling company in Yamaguchi, Japan. The exterior adopts a stacked structure inspired by steel billets, with special coatings that create textural variation. The interior uses angle steel, flat bars and deformed steel bars as finish materials, bringing structural elements into open view. Barcode and QR code motifs extend through the spaces, and seamless LED fixtures shaped like billets are combined with steel louvers on the ceiling. The building has four floors above ground and a maximum height of 19.9 meters.
About Mr Studio
An architectural firm based in Japan that designs various types of buildings, including residential homes, commercial facilities, hotels, offices, factories, and schools.
Award Record
This recognition makes Nobuaki Miyashita of Mr Studio a winner of 4 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2023 - 2024 and the 2024 - 2025 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
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. It 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. Typical entries include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. The awarded architectural projects are published at https://designers.org/design-category/architecture
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/170802
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/170802
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!170802
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/353711
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.mrstudio.biz
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Embraced in Recycled Steel Office
- Function
- Office
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Steel Blue, Black, Dark Slate Gray and Dim Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Kyoei Steel Ltd
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Nobuaki Miyashita
- Country
- Japan
- Brand
- Mr Studio
- Recognition
- Golden A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #170802
Credits
- Image Credits
- Image #1,#3,#4 : Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita Variations, 2024 Image #2,#5 : Photographer Sato Kenta, Variations, 2024.
Design Details
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Realization and 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.
- Operation and Interaction
- 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.
- Project Duration and Location
- 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.
- Specifications
- 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
- Keywords
- architecture, office, lighting design, recycled steel, sustainable design
