Urban Prism Whare by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Waihanga, Whare me te Hanganga Competition Category.
ParahiWaihanga· 2025
Urban Prism Whare
Client: Aida Sekkei Co., Ltd.
A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Waihanga Category
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- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #171578
The Design
About Urban Prism Whare
Ko Urban Prism he whare toru-papa i hangaia ki tētahi wāhi taupori kiko o Tokyo, Hapani. Ko te hanganga rākau e hipoki ana i te horahanga papa katoa o 127.82 mita tapawhā i runga i tētahi papa whenua 100.13 mita tapawhā. Ko ngā pakitara rohe me tētahi kūwaha e hanga ana i tētahi rohe ārai e kawe ana i te māramatanga me te hau ki roto i te whare. Ka toro atu tētahi marae ki te ruma noho ki waho, ā, ko ngā mata whakamarumaru whakarite e whakahaere ana i te matatapu me te māramatanga o te ao. He papa tāhua konupūra e mau ana ki waho o te whare, ā, ko te papa oki, te rino me te karaihe e whakaahua ana i te taiao o roto. Ko te āhua whakairo e urupare ana ki ngā ture teitei me ngā ture whakahoki ā-rohe.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Parahi
Ko Urban Prism Whare te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Urban Prism Whare he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Urban Prism Whare i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Urban Prism balances privacy and openness in a dense urban setting. The design utilizes boundary walls and a gate to create a buffer zone filled with light and air, seamlessly connecting the interior and exterior. Japan’s strict height and setback regulations shaped its refined, sculptural form. A courtyard extends the living space, while adjustable screens regulate privacy and daylight. Black bamboo and upward lighting enhance the entrance, evoking a Japanese aesthetic.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Site Area: 100.13 Square meters
Building Area: 57.64 Square meters
Total Floor Area: 127.82 Square meters
Structure: Wood
Number of Floors: 3 above ground
Eaves Height: 8.53 m
Ceiling Height: 2.50 m - Tags
- architecture, house, urban design, natural light, spatial composition, sustainable living
- Production Technology
- The house employs durable materials suited to urban environments. Textured fiber cement siding accentuates light and shadow interplay, reinforcing depth. The interior harmonizes solid wood, steel, and glass, blending modernity with warmth. Oak flooring enhances the tactile experience. High-performance insulated glass and movable screens optimize daylight, ventilation, and privacy. The exterior cladding ensures longevity, requiring minimal maintenance over time.
- Design Challenge
- The greatest challenge was balancing privacy and openness within strict urban zoning constraints. Japan’s stringent height and setback regulations required innovative volumetric manipulation to maximize livable space. Socially, the project had to address urban density while maintaining tranquility. Externally, material selection was limited by durability and maintenance concerns. Advanced simulations optimized daylight and airflow, ensuring a harmonious spatial experience.
- Research
- Type of Research: Architectural design research
Research Objectives: Optimization of urban housing through spatial and environmental adaptability
Methodology: Model testing, daylight and airflow simulations
Data Collection: On-site analysis, material performance tests
Results: Established a refined approach to urban privacy, integrating zoning constraints into design solutions - Inspiration
- The project transforms zoning constraints into design potential, integrating privacy, natural light, and spatial expansion. The home’s multi-layered structure fosters an interplay between openness and enclosure, adapting flexibly to its surroundings. Carefully arranged volumes and walls create a dynamic sequence of spaces. The design embraces traditional Japanese elements, reinterpreted through contemporary architectural language to enhance urban living.
- Project Duration
- The project was completed in 2019 in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.
- Operation Flow
- Smooth circulation and spatial layering create a dynamic living experience. The atrium channels natural light and air throughout the house, shifting in ambiance with time. Adjustable screens and staggered walls allow residents to control privacy and exposure. The courtyard functions as an outdoor extension of the living room, enhancing spatial fluidity. Black bamboo and illuminated surfaces establish a serene entryway, linking nature with contemporary design.
- Patents
- N/A
- Team Members
- N/A
- Image Credits
- Image #1, #2,#3, #4, #5: Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita, Variations, 2019
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