Yoshinogawa Valley Renovácia budovy centrály by Wataru Sato

Yoshinogawa Valley Renovácia budovy centrály by Wataru Sato is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Bronzová cena A' Design Award in Architektúra Competition Category.

BronzováArchitektúra· 2026

Yoshinogawa Valley Renovácia budovy centrály

by Wataru Sato

Client: KITAOKA Group

Bronzová cena A' Design Award Winner in Architektúra Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Yoshinogawa Valley Renovácia budovy centrály

Tento projekt predstavuje renováciu 40-ročnej prefabrikovanej administratívnej budovy bez demolácie. Do stredu existujúcej konštrukcie je vložený 50-metrový lineárny priestor, zarovnaný s východo-západnou osou rieky Yoshino, ktorý reorganizuje budovu na dve krídla v severo-južnom smere. Tento priestorový zásah, nazvaný Údolie rieky Yoshino, tvorí chrbticu architektúry. Svetlík orientovaný na sever poskytuje stabilné denné svetlo, zatiaľ čo pasívne vetranie vzniká prostredníctvom výškových a tlakových rozdielov. Reorganizáciou budovy sa projekt vyhýba rozdeleniu hodnôt, ktoré podporuje.

The Recognition

About the Bronzová cena A' Design Award

Yoshinogawa Valley Renovácia budovy centrály je laureát Bronzovej ceny A' Design Award, vysoko prestížneho uznania udeľovaného vynikajúcim dizajnom, ktoré sa vyznačujú kreativitou, vynaliezavosťou a bystrosťou. Laureáti Bronzovej ceny sú plne zručné a nápadne kreatívne artefakty, ktoré potvrdzujú rozsiahle skúsenosti, predstavivosť a zdatnosť svojich dizajnérov. Od Yoshinogawa Valley Renovácia budovy centrály sa očakáva, že bude vysoko cenený, obdivovaný a milovaný predmet, pozoruhodne profesionálny a inovatívny. Tento dizajn ocenený Bronzovou cenou A' Design Award zahŕňa najlepšie postupy v umení, vede, dizajne a technológii a vyniká pozornosťou k detailom. Yoshinogawa Valley Renovácia budovy centrály skvele uspokojuje potreby, dotýka sa túžob, očarúva city a vzbudzuje zvedavosť.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Inspired by the Yoshinogawa River, the design translates the structure of a valley into architecture. By dividing the existing building into two volumes and inserting a linear void, a valley-like interior is created.
A 50-meter skylight brings daylight inside, while the void enables ventilation, greenery, and social interaction. This configuration integrates environmental elements into the workplace.
Through renovation, the design reinterprets an existing office and proposes a new spatial model.
Dimensions & Packaging: A valley-like void and continuous skylight are introduced at the center of a 50-meter prefabricated office building. The two-story void brings daylight to the ground floor and enhances natural ventilation.
A 7-meter Benjamin fig tree is placed at the center, visible from both levels. Planting along the void forms a layered green environment connected to the exterior.
Existing structure and finishes are retained, creating a composition where old and new materials coexist.
Tags: Prefabricated office renovation, open lounge, atrium and skylight, regional architecture, nature-inspired workspace, Yoshino River
Production Technology: The project renovates an existing prefabricated office building without demolition.
A central valley-like void integrates daylight, ventilation, and greenery. Continuous skylights provide stable north light, while passive ventilation is driven by height and pressure differences.
Spatial organization is redefined as an environmental system, reducing reliance on mechanical equipment. Existing structure and finishes are retained, forming a layered expression and a sustainable model for reuse.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was to renew the environmental and social value of a deteriorated prefabricated office without demolition or new construction.
Introducing a skylight and central void into an enclosed structure required coordination of structural, safety, and cost constraints.
Rather than relying on equipment, the design redefines spatial organization as an environmental system.
The project shows that architectural operations can generate new value within existing buildings.
Research: This research examines how renovation can achieve environmental performance comparable to new construction.
A skylight and central void introduce daylight and passive ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical systems.
Monitoring shows that artificial lighting is unnecessary during daytime and HVAC demand is reduced. Annual energy decreased by about 73,000 kWh, with savings of 65% in lighting and 30% in air conditioning.
The project presents a replicable model for sustainable renovation.
Inspiration: The project draws inspiration from the Yoshinogawa River, known as the Mother River of Tokushima.
Rather than referencing its form directly, the design interprets the river as a spatial structure.
By inserting a linear void through the existing building, the architecture transforms the logic of a valley into an interior condition, bringing light, wind, and greenery deep into the space, while also inviting relationships among people, families, and the local community.
Project Duration: The project started in January 2023 in Miyoshi Town, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, and was completed in August 2024.
Operation Flow: The building transforms a closed office into an open environment accessible to families and the local community.
The central valley acts as a social axis supporting movement, staying, and interaction. The ground floor serves as a shared space, while the upper floor provides flexible work areas.
Users are not assigned fixed workplaces but choose spaces as needed. Through everyday use, the project encourages informal encounters and redefines how work and social life coexist.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.
Image #2: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.
Image #3: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.
Image #4: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.
Image #5: Photographer Keita Yamamoto (Architectural Photography), Kitaoka Group Headquarters Renovation, 2024.