Jingumae Project, Tokyo Japan Wasi Ukhu Diseño by Kazushige Masuya

Jingumae Project, Tokyo Japan Wasi Ukhu Diseño by Kazushige Masuya is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu in Ukupi Kamay Competition Category.

BurunsiUkupi· 2025

Jingumae Project, Tokyo Japan Wasi Ukhu Diseño

by Kazushige Masuya

Client: Kazushige Masuya

A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu Winner in Ukupi Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #172899

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Jingumae Project, Tokyo Japan Wasi Ukhu Diseño

Jingumae Proyecto nisqaqa Tokyo llaqtapi, Harajuku suyupi, Togo huaca wasiman uyanchakuq huk wasi allichaymi. L simiman rikchakuq kikin puriynin iskay ukhukunata huñunmi, kurbasqa perqakunawan qatakunawantaq wasi ukhupi purinata aswan allinyachin. Kastañu k'aspi, rumi, chakinwan phukusqa qispi (vidriuwan) llamk'asqa, pisilla ñawpaq allichaywanmi churasqa, chayrayku pachamama textura rikuriyninkuna qhawarisqallam kanku. Sliding punkukuna hinallataq wak kurbasqa hukninkuna huk sapallan sinchi k'aspimanta lawrasqa (carve). Parquet suelo, punku detalleskunawanmi ñawpaq Japón lattice dibujukunata yuyarichin. Allpa laya llimp'ikuna huk sonqo tiyasqa, allin sumaq tiyana ruwanku, llaqta ukhupi kawsaypaq.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu

Jingumae Project, Tokyo Japan Wasi Ukhu Diseño A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu mishak kan, jatun yupaychay, kayta mana shuk shina, mushuk yuyaypi, yuyaypi shinallatak chaskik kaypi riksishka diseñukunaman kun. Burunsi mishak kashkakunaka ruray ushayta charik shinallatak mancharina mushuk rurashkakunami, paykunata rurakkunapak achka yachayta, yuyayta shinallatak ruray ushayta rikuchinku. Jingumae Project, Tokyo Japan Wasi Ukhu Diseño sinchi yupaychashka, kuyashka shinallatak riksishka shuk ruray kanata munanku, ruray yuyaywan shinallatak mushuk yuyaywan. Kay Burunsi Premiu japishka diseñuka arti, siensia, diseñu shinallatak tekinolojíapi ashtawan alli ruraykunata tantachin shinallatak ima ukumanta rikuypi sumak kan. Jingumae Project, Tokyo Japan Wasi Ukhu Diseño mañaykunata alli paktachin, munaykunata llankan, shunkuta kuyachin shinallatak yachayta munayta kallarichin.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This apartment renovation facing Togo Shrine in Harajuku blends natural materials to create a modern East-meets-West design inspired by Taisho-era aesthetics. The L-shaped layout merges two units, with curved walls and ceilings enhancing flow. Materials like chestnut wood, stone, and hand-blown glass emphasize sustainability and craftsmanship. Earthy tones and natural accents create a serene yet elegant atmosphere, offering a new model for urban living that harmonizes nature and modern life.
Tags: Residence, apartment, natural materials, granite, solid wood, parquet, door
Production Technology: The sliding doors are crafted using a technique called sumimaru-gōshi, where the lattice is carved from a single piece of solid wood. Instead of attaching separately rounded pieces, the curves are directly shaped from one block of wood. This method achieves a simple yet elegant and softly refined impression.
Similarly, for other wooden elements, the curved (R-shaped) forms are also created by carving from single pieces of solid wood as much as possible, ensuring a sense of cohesion throughout the space.
Design Challenge: Since this project began during the unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, sourcing materials, furniture, and fixtures took far longer than expected. However, this situation allowed us to secure time for deep discussions with the client about fundamental questions: What truly makes a home livable? What defines comfort? As a result, the project became a kind of antithesis to the prevailing trend of prioritizing economic efficiency, prompting everyone involved to reconsider the essence of their work.
Research: We were asked to reconsider the standard interior and architectural modules to ensure the client could live comfortably. Through discussions, we carefully reviewed factors such as circulation widths, dimensions at corners, and the overall flow of daily life. As a result, some areas required more generous spatial allowances than usual. However, upon completion, the client expressed great satisfaction, feeling that the space had become a truly unique environment tailored specifically for them.
Inspiration: We created a space that feels in harmony with nature, as if bringing the serene environment and greenery of the shrine into the interior. Specifically, surface treatments were kept to a minimum to highlight the natural textures of the materials. Inspired by traditional Japanese lattice doors and patterns, these design elements are reflected in the parquet flooring and door detailing.
Project Duration: The project started in October 2022 and finished in November 2024.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Kazushige Masuya, 2024.
Team Members: Shinichi Itami(life design kabaya co.,ltd)
Senior Designer
Yuki Monden(life design kabaya co.,ltd)
Designer
Taeko Shinchi(life design kabaya co.,ltd)
Designer
Yukihiko Asaka(life design kabaya co.,ltd)
Construction Manager
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024
Image #2: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024
Image #3: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024
Image #4: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024
Image #5: Photographer Daiki Morita, ZOOM, 2024