Urawa Garden Bldg Aedificium Officiorum by Nobuaki Miyashita

Urawa Garden Bldg Aedificium Officiorum by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Architectura Competition Category.

ArgentumArchitectura· 2025

Urawa Garden Bldg Aedificium Officiorum

by Nobuaki Miyashita

Client: Garden Group

Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Architectura Category

20,356

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #171588

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Urawa Garden Bldg Aedificium Officiorum

Aedificium Urawa Garden est aedificium officiorum in urbe Urawa, Saitama, Iaponia situm. Transitus pervius aream secat et vias circumiacentes coniungit, in memoriam pristinae viae mercatoriae Nakaginza Seven revocans. Areae apertae secundum transitum peditibus et operariis officiorum loca conveniendi praebent. Frons aedificii cubos vitreos pendentes variae perspicuitatis gerit, ita ut species cum luce diei mutetur. Materiae naturales, virentia et opera artis in spatiis laboris interioribus adhibentur. Lumina parcae energiae et rationes aedificandi passivae commoditatem et sustinentiam sustentant.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum

Urawa Garden Bldg Aedificium Officiorum victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Urawa Garden Bldg Aedificium Officiorum opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. Urawa Garden Bldg Aedificium Officiorum creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Urawa Garden Building is an office structure centered around a "through passage" that connects the city and its people. It inherits the memory of the former "Nakaginza Seven" shopping street, integrating passageways and plazas to enhance urban flow. Floating glass cubes on the facade interact with the cityscape, symbolizing openness and transparency. Inside, greenery and art installations create a stimulating workspace that fosters creativity and interaction.
Dimensions & Packaging: Site area: 1,854.21 square meters
Building area: 1,159.37 square meters
Total floor area: 10,967.32 square meters
Structure: S (CFT), RC, SRC
Number of floors: 1 basement, 10 above ground
Max height: 43.7 meters
Eaves height: 43.1 meters
Tags: architecture, office, urban design, passage, glass facade, sustainability
Production Technology: The facade integrates glass panels with varying transparency, reflecting urban layers dynamically. Natural materials harmonize with the surroundings, creating a warm and inviting office space. An energy-efficient lighting scheme and passive design strategies enhance sustainability and comfort, ensuring an environmentally responsible and user-friendly work environment.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was balancing commercial functions with public accessibility. By strategically placing the through passage and open plazas, the project strengthened the connection between office spaces and the urban fabric. The floating glass cubes required innovative lightweight structures and varied transparency to seamlessly integrate the architecture with the cityscape.
Research: Type of Research: Urban architectural design
Objective: Exploring the potential of offices integrating commercial and public space
Methodology: Analysis of historical urban transitions, urban-scale simulations
Data Collection: Pedestrian movement observations, visual simulations
Results: Creation of an urban-office hybrid through passageways and plazas
Impact: Enhancing pedestrian networks and establishing a new urban icon
Inspiration: The design draws inspiration from the site’s historical layers, reinterpreting Edo-period urban structures and the postwar vibrancy of local shopping streets. The building reconstructs past pedestrian flows, creating an open urban space. The floating glass cubes symbolize the lights and energy of the former market, establishing a new architectural landmark that bridges tradition and contemporary urban life.
Project Duration: The project is located in Urawa, Saitama, Japan, and was completed in February 2024.
Operation Flow: The through passage seamlessly connects the building to the city, allowing both office workers and pedestrians to interact fluidly. Open plazas enhance community engagement, providing diverse activity spaces. The glass cubes on the facade capture light dynamically, shifting appearances throughout the day and reinforcing the building’s urban presence.
Patents: N/A
Team Members: N/A
Image Credits: Image #1,#2,#3,#4,#5: Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita, 2024