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Urawa Garden Bldg Kontorbygg by Nobuaki Miyashita

Urawa Garden Bldg Kontorbygg by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award i Sølv in Arkitektur-, bygnings- og strukturdesign Competition Category.


SølvArkitektur· 2025

Urawa Garden Bldg Kontorbygg

by Nobuaki Miyashita

Client: Garden Group

A' Design Award i Sølv Winner in Arkitektur Category

Colors

The Design

About Urawa Garden Bldg Kontorbygg

Urawa Garden Building er et kontorbygg i Urawa, Saitama, Japan. En gjennomgående passasje krysser tomten og knytter sammen de omkringliggende gatene, og minner om den tidligere handlegaten Nakaginza Seven. Åpne plasser langs passasjen gir fotgjengere og kontoransatte steder å møtes. Fasaden bærer svevende glasskuber med varierende transparens, slik at uttrykket endrer seg med dagslyset. Naturlige materialer, grønne planter og kunst er brukt i de innvendige arbeidsområdene. Energieffektiv belysning og passive designstrategier bidrar til komfort og bærekraft.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award i Sølv

Urawa Garden Bldg Kontorbygg er vinner av A' Design Award i Sølv, en usedvanlig prestisjefylt anerkjennelse som tildeles design i toppklassen som er nydelige og imponerende. Sølvvinnere er enormt briljante og usedvanlig kreative verk som viser designernes enestående ekspertise, talent og skarpsindighet. Urawa Garden Bldg Kontorbygg forventes å være et praktfullt utstillingsverk som er bemerkelsesverdig profesjonelt og dypt nyskapende. Dette designet, som har vunnet A' Design Award i Sølv, er en svært bemerkelsesverdig, beundret oppfinnelse som gagner og flytter grensene for kunst, vitenskap, design og teknologi. Urawa Garden Bldg Kontorbygg er et skaperverk mange misunner, som vekker ønsker, gir positive følelser og vekker undring og forundring.

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

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