Nobuaki Miyashita · CLIENT: Kyoei Steel Ltd
Embraced in Recycled Steel is an architectural lighting design for an office building in Yamaguchi, Japan. Billet-shaped seamless LED fixtures are embedded within steel louvers, creating a rhythm of light across the recycled steel surfaces. Lighting patterns inspired by barcodes and QR codes are placed through the interior and shift in appearance as people move. A control system adjusts brightness in response to daylight conditions. The design highlights the texture of recycled steel while providing comfortable illumination for daily work.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This lighting design transforms Kyoei Steel’s industrial identity into a refined architectural experience, emphasizing the interplay of recycled steel and light. Billet-shaped seamless LED fixtures embedded in steel louvers create a luminous rhythm, enhancing the material’s structural and textural qualities. Barcode and QR code-inspired lighting compositions connect digital branding with the environment, reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainability and innovation.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 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 - Tags
- architecture, office, lighting design, recycled steel, sustainable design
- Production Technology
- The lighting system incorporates billet-shaped seamless LED fixtures precisely embedded within steel louvers. These lights are designed to blend with the raw aesthetic of recycled steel while enhancing spatial depth and visual continuity. Advanced lighting control systems allow for dynamic brightness adjustments, ensuring optimal illumination that adapts to natural daylight conditions. The result is a harmonious integration of technology and materiality, elevating both functional and aesthetic qualities.
- Design Challenge
- The challenge was integrating seamless lighting into industrial steel structures without compromising the raw material’s authenticity. Developing billet-shaped LED fixtures that maintained a minimalist form while providing effective illumination required extensive prototyping. Regulatory compliance, thermal management, and ensuring harmony between structural elements and lighting patterns were additional hurdles that necessitated iterative design refinements.
- Project Duration
- The lighting design project commenced in early 2022 in Yamaguchi, Japan, as part of Kyoei Steel’s office renovation. The design and implementation phases extended through early 2024, integrating advanced lighting technologies with recycled steel structures to create a visually compelling and sustainable workspace.
- Operation Flow
- The lighting design not only enhances the aesthetic qualities of recycled steel but also guides users through the space by creating a layered visual experience. The illuminated barcode and QR code motifs subtly interact with movement, shifting perspectives as users navigate the office. The interplay between artificial and natural light fosters a dynamic atmosphere that transforms throughout the day, reinforcing the concept of continuous material renewal.
- Research
- Type of Research: Applied Lighting Design Research
Objective: To explore innovative lighting strategies that enhance the aesthetics and functionality of recycled steel.
Methodology: Light modeling, material interaction analysis, and human perception studies.
Data Collection: Experimental prototyping and user behavior analysis.
Participants: Lighting designers, architects, and material specialists.
Results & Insights: The research demonstrated how integrated lighting enhances both industrial material aesthetics and workplace functionality, influencing sustainable lighting solutions in architectural design. - Inspiration
- Inspired by the recycling process of steel and Kyoei Steel’s corporate identity, the lighting design evokes the transformation of raw materials into high-quality products. The barcode and QR code-inspired light patterns symbolize digital connectivity and sustainable manufacturing. The seamless integration of billet-shaped LED fixtures within steel structures enhances the spatial rhythm, creating an immersive and futuristic work environment.
- Image Credits
- Image #1,#2 : Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita Variations, 2024
Image #3,#4,#5 : Photographer Sato Kenta, Variations, 2024. - Patents
- N/A
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