Stilleness Nyumba ya Wageni by Sohei Obata

Stilleness Nyumba ya Wageni by Sohei Obata is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award in Usanifu wa Majengo, Ujenzi na Miundo Competition Category.

ShabaUsanifu wa Majengo· 2026

Stilleness Nyumba ya Wageni

by Sohei Obata

Client: Advance Architect Co.,Ltd

Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award Winner in Usanifu wa Majengo Category

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Colors

The Design

About Stilleness Nyumba ya Wageni

Stilleness ni nyumba ya wageni yenye ghorofa tatu iliyojengwa kwenye kiwanja kidogo sana katikati ya jiji la Osaka, Japani. Nafasi za kuishi zimewekwa kwenye ghorofa za juu, huku ghorofa ya chini ikiwa na karakana ya gari. Vipengele vya kitamaduni vya Kijapani vimefasiriwa upya kupitia vigae vya nje vinavyofanana na vigae vya paa, ukingo wa mianzi uliopangwa (latticework) na bustani ya ua wa kati. Bafu ya Goemon na sehemu ya alcove zimeunganishwa na huduma za kisasa. Muundo wa fremu ya chuma unakidhi mahitaji ya mijini ya kuzuia moto na kustahimili matetemeko ya ardhi. Ua wa kati unaruhusu kijani kibichi kuonekana kutoka kila ghorofa, hivyo kiwanja hicho chembamba kinapata hisia ya kina na utulivu.

The Recognition

About the Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award

Stilleness Nyumba ya Wageni ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima kubwa unaotolewa kwa miundo bora inayotofautishwa kwa ubunifu, ustadi na busara. Washindi wa Shaba ni kazi za ufundi mwingi na bunifu ya kushangaza zinazothibitisha uzoefu mpana, mawazo na ustadi wa wabunifu wao. Stilleness Nyumba ya Wageni inatarajiwa kuwa kitu kinachothaminiwa sana, kupendwa na kuenziwa, ambacho ni cha kitaalamu na bunifu kwa kiasi kikubwa. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award unajumuisha mbinu bora katika sanaa, sayansi, usanifu na teknolojia, na ni bora kwa umakini wake kwa undani. Stilleness Nyumba ya Wageni hutosheleza mahitaji kwa uzuri, hugusa hamu, huvutia hisia na kuvutia udadisi.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This three-story guesthouse makes the most of the limited space in the city center. Based on the theme of "tranquility in a modern city," it incorporates reinterpretations of traditional Japanese designs, such as exterior tiles resembling roof tiles, latticework, and a courtyard garden. More than just accommodation, it offers a unique and profound sense of spiritual fulfillment by blending ancient Japanese lifestyle culture, such as a Goemon bath and an alcove, with modern design.
Dimensions & Packaging: Site area: 76.55 Size: 135.71 Structure: Steel Floor: 3 While employing a steel frame construction that meets urban fire and earthquake resistance standards, the design incorporates traditional materials reproduced with modern technology in the form of roof tiles on the exterior walls. By optimizing the plumbing within the limited area and achieving a sophisticated spatial layout that balances views of the courtyard with privacy, a comfortable stay is ensured.
Tags: Guest House, Residence, Architecture
Production Technology: Despite the limited plot size, the design emphasizes "visual expansion." The space is structured around the landscaping of the courtyard, ensuring that greenery can be felt from every floor. The pathway from the small courtyard to the entrance hall with its alcove recreates the experience of a "roji" (alleyway) leading to a tea room. In addition to functionality, delicate textures are added with lattices and tiles, creating a balanced combination of hard and soft elements.
Design Challenge: The challenge was to pack a courtyard and authentic Japanese design elements into a limited, extremely small plot of land while ensuring functionality to accommodate a large number of guests. Within the constraints of legal regulations and structural limitations, we struggled to transform the "narrowness" into the Japanese aesthetic of "depth." The most difficult and creative process was considering the details to harmonize the traditional Goemon bath and courtyard with modern facilities.
Research: This project focuses on the research theme of "preserving tradition in small-scale urban architecture." Through the behavior and reactions of guests (especially foreigners), we will examine the healing effect of Japanese spatial beauty on today's stressful society. This design demonstrates that even in urban areas lacking historical resources, ingenuity in design can create a hub for cultural dissemination, presenting a new model for regional economic revitalization and cultural preservation.
Inspiration: The motivation was "spiritual immersion amidst the hustle and bustle." We wanted to create a sophisticated, otherworldly space where visitors could enjoy the conveniences of the city while stepping inside and experiencing the Japanese aesthetic of "wabi-sabi." We aimed to help busy modern travelers understand Japanese life on a visceral level by allowing them to experience the unique senses of "shadow" and "space" characteristic of Japanese architecture through the use of materials and lighting.
Project Duration: The project was completed in Osaka, Japan in March 2026
Operation Flow: The first floor is primarily used as a garage. Living spaces are located on the second floor and above, with rooms arranged in a continuous flow. Wide passageways are provided between each building to allow large vehicles to move around the property, and terraces are provided for residents to gather and foster a sense of community. High walls and a heavy gate surround the perimeter to enhance security.
Patents: Copyrights
Image Credits: Yu Kato, Way Co.,Ltd