Kukan Design Awards 2021 - KUKAN OF THE YEAR (Japan)

In Japanese culture, KUKAN (space) concept regards physical space and "Ma," which define as the distance between the hearts of those present in that space, the changes of affairs, and the passage of time. Therefore, design spaces are to create tremendous potential for people, society and epochs.

Established to connect the value of spatial design to the future, the KUKAN DESIGN AWARD is the most esteemed of such awards in Japan. The mission behind the KUKAN DESIGN AWARD is to mine the salutation of our society's multi-faceted challenges and breakthrough to a hopeful future.

The total of 887 entries into eleven different categories in the 2021 Kukan Design Award. Thirteen judges selected two projects as the grand prizes for the Kukan of the year also named as Nikkei Inc Award. The winning projects are Mirai Convenience Store and The House with a public bath "KUWAMIZU SENTO."

KUKAN OF THE YEAR: MIRAI CONVENIENCE STORE, design by KOKUYO Co.,Ltd.

Chief Designer: Wataru SATO

Our quest on this project was to find how the convenience store could be that brings up children and create future of KITO area.

Then our answer after due consideration was the architecture which embrace the mother nature and identity of KITO, and the architecture which people living there are proud of, and the architecture which evokes the sympathy from the world, rather than the extensional design of existing concepts.

I think this designing was like a creation of “original” story assembling the pieces of the world of local people and KITO, from the past to the future.

I would like to celebrate this honorable award with all people in this story making project.

Photo by Keita Yamamoto / Nacasa & Partners Inc.

KUKAN OF THE YEAR: The house with a public bath “KUWAMIZU SENTO".

Kuroiwa Structural Engineers

CEO: Yuuki KUROIWA

We are delighted to be chosen for KUKAN OF THE YEAR of Kukan Design Award 2021. Our team could receive this honorable award thanks to many people. Friends of owners helped the construction, and each of the area leaders and neighbors kindly supported for the application of new public bath establishment. Last but not least, we would like to thank the owners and their parents who manage the daily operation of the facility. Encouraged by this award, we continue to seek for the ways of housing that support people in emergency situation beyond the concepts of public space and private space, and we would like to contribute to the community.

Photo by Shigeo Ogawa

For more information about Kukan Design Award, please visit: https://kukan.design/en/

Kukan Design Award is now partnering with the IF Design Award

Kukan Design Award / 日本空間デザイン賞is now calling for entries. The Japan Spatial Design Award is now partnering with the iF Design Award, managed by the German iF International Forum Design GmbH. As a result of this partnership agreement, the Shortlisted winners of the Japan Kukan Design Award 2021 will be exempted from the registration fee and pre-selection process for the iF Design Award 2022 to become a finalist in iF Design Awards.

The Japan Kukan (Spatial) Design Award was created in 2019 and is the only and most significant spatial design award in Japan. The aim is to discover, recognize and evaluate outstanding and best designers in Japan and abroad. Kukan Design Awards hope to communicate to as many people as possible worldwide to deliver the 'power of spatial design' through great design.

Besides, following the "Sustainable Development Goals," Kukan Design Award has established a new "Sustainable Space Award" for works that contribute to realizing a better and more sustainable future for all people.

*All entries must be submitted via the dedicated entry website.

For more details, please visit the following website：https://kukan.design/

Application period: Thursday 1 April 2021, 10:00 - Wednesday 16 June 2021, 23:00 (Japan time)

Eligible entries: 11 categories, including exhibition, commercial, office and residential

Sponsored by: General Incorporated Association Japan Commercial Environment Design Association, General incorporate and sponsored by Ministry of land infrastructure, transport and tourism, Japan Trade promotion Organization (Jetro), Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Planned)

For the application inquiry, please contact Kukan@japandesign.ne.jp.

Japan Kukan Design Award 2021

The Japan Kukan (Spatial) Design Award was created in 2019 and is the only and largest spatial design award in Japan. The aim is to discover and recognize the best designers and outstanding design work in Japan as well as abroad. We hope to communicate to as many people as possible around the world, the ‘power of spatial design’ through great designs from Japan.

In addition, in accordance with the "Sustainable Development Goals" (SDG), a set of 17 goals and 169 targets adopted by the United Nations, from this year Kukan Design has established a new "SDG Award" for works that contribute to the realization of a better and more sustainable future for all people in spatial design. They are pleased to announce the launch of the new "SDGs Award" for entries that contribute to a better and more sustainable future for all.

Furthermore, the Japan Spatial Design Award will sign a partnership agreement with the iF Design Award, which is managed by the German iF International Forum Design GmbH. As a result of this partnership agreement, the Short List winners of the Japan Kukan Design Award 2021 will be exempted from the registration fee and pre-selection process for the iF Design Award 2022, to become finalist in the iF Design Awards.

*The details of the partnership agreement between the Japan Kukan Design Award and the iF Design Award, as well as the benefits of applying for the award; will be officially announced at a later date.

Japan Kukan Design Award 2021 Application Process

All entries must be submitted via the dedicated entry website. Please visit the following website：https://kukan.design/

• Application period: Thursday 1 April 2021, 10:00 - Wednesday 16 June 2021, 23:00 (Japan time)

• Eligible entries: 11 categories including exhibition, commercial, office and residential

• Further details on the judging process and application fees will be posted on the application guidelines webpage.

• The above website will be relaunched in mid-March.