Gold Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2026
PW Senrichuo Senior Residence
by Uds Ltd.
- A' Design Award 2026 Gold Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: UDS Ltd.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 42,359
- Verification code 8585DA0E0C · Verify this award
About PW Senrichuo Senior Residence
PW Senrichuo is a senior residence in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan, offering both independent and assisted living. The building provides 548 units across twelve above-ground floors and one below-ground floor. Five dining areas, a courtyard and open conversation spaces along the corridors encourage residents to move freely and to meet one another. A community annex with a separate entrance allows contact with the local area while keeping the homes private and calm. Stone and wood form the main materials, and high-efficiency equipment reduces energy use.
Daisuke Takamiya's PW Senrichuo Senior Residence emerges from traditions of contemporary residential architecture that seek to dissolve boundaries between interior sanctuary and exterior landscape, between geometric precision and organic naturalism, and between the functional requirements of senior living and the aspirational qualities of contemplative hospitality, the work demonstrates exceptional command of material expression through its limestone-clad pavilion structure whose carefully proportioned rectangular window bays create a measured rhythm that speaks to classical ordering principles while the expansive glazing system reveals an interior environment suffused with warm illumination that transforms the building into a lantern at twilight, the compositional achievement lies in the sophisticated dialogue established between the orthogonal architectural volumes and the naturalistic garden elements at left where a mature pine tree with characteristically sculpted form rises from an arrangement of weathered stones, this juxtaposition activates deep cultural associations with contemplative garden traditions that value the interplay between human ordering and natural growth patterns, the reflecting pool extending across the foreground serves both practical and poetic functions, its perfectly still surface doubling the illuminated architecture and creating a symmetrical meditation that invites prolonged contemplation of the relationship between substance and reflection, presence and absence, the warm amber palette of the interior lighting achieves particular expressiveness against the cool cerulean twilight, suggesting the building as a vessel of warmth and welcome within the larger atmospheric envelope of the evening sky, the residential tower rising behind establishes urban context while its stepped horizontal balconies create a visual rhythm that echoes the pavilion's fenestration pattern, one might observe how the work invites consideration of architecture's capacity to create environments of dignity and beauty for all stages of human life, what qualities of space and light might support wellbeing and contemplation in our later years?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- A large-scale senior residence for the 100-year life, offering both independent and assisted living. Its most unique feature is its openness to the local community. On-site facilities like the "Villa" and "Salon" serve as hubs for intergenerational interaction, a departure from typical closed-off homes. The design seamlessly integrates lush outdoor spaces with diverse common areas, promoting well-being by allowing residents to choose comfortable settings that suit their daily mood.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Meticulous consideration for seniors is reflected in ergonomic details like wheelchair-accessible tables and handrails. Through high-efficiency equipment, this "ZEB Ready" building reduces energy consumption by over 50%, contributing to a sustainable society.
Site Area: 17,909.32 sqm
Total Floor Area: 45,120.16 sqm
Structure and Scale: Reinforced Concrete with Partial Steel Structure.
12 above-ground floors, 1 below-ground floor
Number of Units: 548 units: 470 regular units and 78 care units - Tags
- senior, residence, residential, architecture, interior, landscape
- Production Technology
- This design achieves a high-quality living space that balances safety and elegance. It is based on natural materials like stone and wood, with metals and leathers strategically incorporated for excellent visibility and cushioning. Meticulous consideration for seniors is reflected in ergonomic details like wheelchair-accessible tables and handrails. Through high-efficiency equipment, this "ZEB Ready" building reduces energy consumption by over 50%, contributing to a sustainable society.
- Design Challenge
- In the 100-year life era, we aimed to redefine the conventional nursing home into a new senior residence that supports holistic well-being. Our objective was to create a quality environment for active seniors that fosters community connections ("en"). By designing diverse common spaces to encourage interaction, we created value beyond the typical "final home," tapping a new market for quality living and attracting residents from their 60s.
- Project Duration
- Construction Start: December 2020
Completion: February 2023
Opening: March 2023
Location: Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan - Operation Flow
- By implementing a circulatory plan for the interior and exterior, including the courtyard, the design encourages residents to wander freely inside and out, fostering spontaneous encounters and interactions. Five dining areas with unique atmospheres offer the joy of choosing a space to suit their mood. Open conversational spaces along corridors prevent isolation and promote daily communication. A community-open annex with direct access allows interaction between residents and the local community.
- Research
- The main challenge was to overturn the "final home" stereotype of conventional nursing homes, creating a residence with new value that active seniors aspire to. A key issue was how to naturally balance community interaction with resident privacy and safety. Our solution separates community-oriented common areas from residential spaces by providing a dedicated external access route. This successfully balanced two crucial values: a secure, calm life and a vibrant, multi-generational community.
- Inspiration
- In the 100-year life era, we challenge the monolithic, closed-off image of conventional nursing homes. Our vision is a residence for a longer, healthier, richer, and more active life. Inspired by the 'Abundant Bonds' between people, architecture, and nature, this is more than a place to live. Our community is an open platform that fosters connections among residents and with the local area, enriching daily life with vibrancy. This is a high-quality space for living a new chapter to the fullest.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Nacasa & Partners, 2023
Optional Image #1: Nacasa & Partners, 2023
Optional Image #2: Nacasa & Partners, 2023
Optional Image #3: Nacasa & Partners, 2023
Optional Image #4: Nacasa & Partners, 2023