Kinuta Ntlo ea Bolulo by Nobuaki Miyashita

Kinuta Ntlo ea Bolulo by Nobuaki Miyashita is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Meaho, Dikaho le Dibopego Competition Category.

BoronseMeaho· 2026

Kinuta Ntlo ea Bolulo

by Nobuaki Miyashita

Client: AIDA SEKKEI Co., Ltd.

Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award Winner in Meaho Category

5,842

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #181404

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Kinuta Ntlo ea Bolulo

Kinuta ke ntlo ea bolulo e hahiloeng setšeng se moqotetsane sa toropo Tokyo, Japane. Setša sena se na le bophara ba limithara tse 3.6, 'me melao ea ho khutlisetsa mohaho morao e fokotsa bophara bo sebetsang bo ka pele ho fihla ka tlase ho limithara tse 2.6. Sebaka sa ho phela, sa ho jella le sa ho phehela se behiloe mokatong oa bobeli ho fumana lekunutu le khanya ea letsatsi e tsoang ka boroa. Lebala le kahare le nang le lerako, le deke ea patsi le marako a matala a lenngoeng lijalo le fetola sebaka sa ho khutlisetsa mohaho morao hore e be kamore e khutsitseng ea kantle. Monyako, phasejeng le litepisi li theha tatellano e otlolohileng e totobatsang botebo. Marako a kantle a li-ceramic tse lefifi a nang le sistimi ea manonyeletso a ommeng a boloka manonyeletso a fasete a tsoela pele, ho kenyeletsoa le likhutlong.

The Recognition

About the Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award

Kinuta Ntlo ea Bolulo ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e ikhethang e tsejoang ka boqapi, bohlale ba ho qapa le bohlale. Bahapi ba Boronse ke lintho tse nang le bokhoni ka ho felletseng le boqapi bo hlollang tse tiisang boiphihlelo bo bongata, mohopolo le bokhoni ba ho iphumana ba baqapi ba tsona. Kinuta Ntlo ea Bolulo e lebelletsoe ho ba ntho e hlomphuoang haholo, e ratoang le e ratehang, e nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award o kenyelletsa mekhoa e metle ka ho fetesisa bonong, mahlaleng, moralong le theknolojing mme o hlahella ka ho tsepamisa maikutlo lintlheng tse nyenyane. Kinuta Ntlo ea Bolulo e kutloisisa litlhoko hantle, e ama litakatso, e hapa maikutlo mme e tsosa takatso ea ho tseba.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: A premium residence for a family of three on an "eel's bed" plot. Although the site is 3.6 m wide, setback rules reduce the effective frontage to under 2.6 m. The LDK is lifted to the second floor for privacy and southern daylight, while a walled courtyard with a timber deck and green walls turns the setback zone into a calm outdoor room. A continuous frame integrates the boundary wall, balcony, and eaves, giving a strong identity to a minimal frontage.
Dimensions & Packaging: Site area 54.97 m2. Building area 27.48 m2. Total floor area 54.96 m2. Building frontage 2680 mm. Long narrow site approx. 3.6 m by 15 m. Eaves height from design GL 6.810 m. Main living, dining, and kitchen on the second floor. Courtyard and deck within the setback zone.
Tags: Narrow House, Urban Infill, Courtyard, Setback Strategy, Second Floor Living, Privacy and Daylight, Dry Joint Facade, Compact Residence, Tokyo Housing
Production Technology: The exterior uses dark ceramic siding designed for a dry joint system. The panel module and joint layout were coordinated from the early design stage to keep the joint rhythm continuous, including at corners. A white post and nameplate, together with dark metal fittings, are composed as sharp accents. Inside, the courtyard deck and planted green walls form a durable interface between interior life and an outdoor retreat.
Design Challenge: The hardest challenge was achieving comfort and dignity within severe statutory limits. Facing a 4 m wide road, the building was tightly controlled by slant plane and setback regulations, with no relaxation available and sky factor use not permitted. At the same time, close neighbors required strong privacy. The design responds by lifting the LDK, inserting a walled courtyard, and refining facade joints to maintain architectural tension at a very small scale.
Research: ype of research: Applied design research for compact housing. Objective: Maximize daylight, privacy, and perceived spaciousness under strict setback rules. Methodology: Iterative massing studies, section checks, and module studies for dry joint cladding. Tools: Sketches, scaled models, and CAD. Results: A second floor LDK and a setback courtyard that add light and a private outdoor room, plus a facade with a continuous joint rhythm. Impacts: A transferable approach for premium living on narrow urban plots.
Inspiration: The project was driven by a question: how can a very narrow house feel generous without relying on tricks? In dense Tokyo neighborhoods, privacy and sunlight are often traded off. By moving the living spaces upward and carving a courtyard within the regulatory setback, the house gains light, air, and a personal exterior space. The facade detailing was inspired by product-like precision, with dry-joint planning from the earliest design stage to keep corners crisp.
Project Duration: Designed and completed in Setagaya (Kinuta), Tokyo, Japan.
Operation Flow: A linear sequence begins at the entrance and continues as a corridor and stair, emphasizing depth on the narrow plot. Arrival to the second floor LDK opens to southern light and a private courtyard. Daily living extends to the timber deck and green walls. The continuous frame unifies the balcony, eaves, and boundary wall, defining the home's compact yet premium character.
Patents: All images and project content are Nobuaki Miyashita / MR STUDIO Co.,Ltd.
Image Credits: Image #1: Nobuaki Miyashita
Image #2: Nobuaki Miyashita
Image #3: Nobuaki Miyashita
Image #4: Nobuaki Miyashita
Image #5: Nobuaki Miyashita