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Urban Prism Guri by Nobuaki Miyashita

Urban Prism Guri by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award in Naqshadeynta Qaab-dhismeedka, Dhismaha iyo Qaab-dhismeedyada Competition Category.


NaxaasQaab-dhismeed· 2025

Urban Prism Guri

by Nobuaki Miyashita

Client: Aida Sekkei Co., Ltd.

Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award Winner in Qaab-dhismeed Category

Colors

The Design

About Urban Prism Guri

Urban Prism waa guri saddex dabaq ah oo lagu dhisay aag magaalo oo cufan oo ku yaal Tokyo, Japan. Qaab-dhismeedka alwaaxda ah wuxuu daboolayaa dhul-dhis wadar ahaan 127.82 mitir laba jibbaaran, kaas oo ku yaal goob dhan 100.13 mitir laba jibbaaran. Darbiyada xadka iyo iridda waxay sameeyaan aag xajin ah kaas oo iftiinka iyo hawada u soo galiya gudaha guriga. Barxad ayaa fadhiga (living room) ka fidisa dibadda, halka shaashado la hagaajin karo ay xakameeyaan sirdhawrka iyo iftiinka maalinta. Dusha dibadda waxaa lagu dahaadhay siding fiber cement ah oo qaab-qaabaysan, halka gudaha loo dhisay sabuulasho oak ah, bir, iyo galaas. Qaabka farshaxannimada ah wuxuu ka jawaabayaa qawaaniinta dhulka ee ku saabsan dhererka iyo dib-u-dhigga (setback) ee deegaanka.

The Recognition

About the Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award

Urban Prism Guri waa guuleystaha Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award, aqoonsi sharaf sare leh oo la siiyo naqshado aan caadi ahayn oo lagu garto hal-abuur, hal-abuur cusub iyo caqli. Guuleystayaasha Naxaasta waa shaqooyin xirfad buuxda leh iyo hal-abuur yaab leh oo xaqiijiya khibrad weyn, male-awaal iyo kartida naqshadeeyayaashooda. Urban Prism Guri waa walax la filayo inay noqoto mid aad loo tixgeliyo, la ixtiraamo oo la jecel yahay, xirfad cad leh oo hal-abuur cusub leh. Naqshadahan ku guuleystay Abaalmarinta Naxaasta ah ee A' Design Award wuxuu ku darsadaa hab-dhaqanno ugu wanaagsan farshaxanka, sayniska, naqshadaynta iyo tignoolajiyada wuxuuna ku fiican yahay dhawrista tafaasiisha. Urban Prism Guri si fiican ayay u buuxisaa baahiyaha, taabataa rabitaannada, soo jiidataa dareenka kicinayaanna xiisaha aqoonta.

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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