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.
A feeling called Home - City Home Collective
BRABBU is a design brand that reflects an intense way of living, bringing fierceness, strength and power into an urban lifestyle. With a diverse range of furniture, casegoods, upholstery, lighting and rugs, and through sensory design, they pass on a unique experience in every product that they design and produce. Assuming that home is a lot more than a space, City Home Collective, the company responsible for this Park City House, wanted to do something exceptional with this project, creating a meaningful feeling to the client: a place where he belongs.
BRABBU is a design brand that reflects an intense way of living, bringing fierceness, strength and power into an urban lifestyle. With a diverse range of furniture, casegoods, upholstery, lighting and rugs, and through sensory design, they pass on a unique experience in every product that they design and produce. Assuming that home is a lot more than a space, City Home Collective, the company responsible for this Park City House, wanted to do something exceptional with this project, creating a meaningful feeling to the client: a place where he belongs.
The prime objective of this design firm is to match people with unique spaces, working with high-skilled designers, such as Helena Morozoff, the senior designer responsible for this Park City project, who prospects smart design with no boundaries.
As a result, the strategy here was to let the material drive the design, always opting for the most comfortable furnishing, choosing and combining materials that speak to each other, which made this warm, tactile and visual feeling of a retreat possible.
This perfect combination of neutral tones and patterns, contributed to the arising of this cosy and monochromatic space, filled with elegance and uniqueness, allowing the space to evolve over the time.
In a nutshell, City Home Collective believes that “life is better when you love where you live”, so they designed this house as the perfect place to relax, reconnect and recharge. And that is why home is so much more than a space, it is definitely a feeling.
For more information, please visit: www.brabbu.com
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 we have 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. We 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 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.
The Celebration of the heritage that narrates Parisian history by Neri & Hu, the Papi Restaurant
Nestled in the Grands Boulevards district of Paris' 9th arrondissement, Papi is the latest brainchild of up-and-coming restaurateur Etienne Ryckeboer his debut seafood bar Bulot Bulot. This time, he teams up with Neri&Hu to rehaul the façade and interior space, and with talented Japanese chef Akira Sugiura to serve a seasonal menu of modern Italian dishes.
Located on the ground floor of a typical late 19th century Haussmann building, Neri&Hu's design concept celebrates the layered material heritage that narrates Parisian history.
Nestled in the Grands Boulevards district of Paris' 9th arrondissement, Papi is the latest brainchild of up-and-coming restaurateur Etienne Ryckeboer his debut seafood bar Bulot Bulot. This time, he teams up with Neri&Hu to rehaul the façade and interior space, and with talented Japanese chef Akira Sugiura to serve a seasonal menu of modern Italian dishes.
Located on the ground floor of a typical late 19th century Haussmann building, Neri&Hu's design concept celebrates the layered material heritage that narrates Parisian history. During the dismantling phase, the existing site was treated carefully; by stripping back the strata of finishes built up through the decades, the raw materials' beauty is revealed. Every single element was meticulously examined, and the challenge was to resist the urge to fix every imperfection, instead, honour the imprint oft of time upon each surface. Within the interior, portions of the old limestone and brick walls, a raw steel column, and a brick column are preserved and integrated into the design. On the façade, an existing steel I-beam lintel is featured, while a segment of the old stone moulding by the entry is left exposed, stitching the façade seamlessly to the neighboring building. Each fragment neighbouring ants a different period in Paris' history, forming a beautiful yet imposing canvas for the architects to add their new strokes.
The new raw-steel-framed fully-operable glass façade maintains a visual continuity between the street and the venue and effectively extends the public realm into the interior. As guests enter the space through the main door, they see the clash of juxtaposing old and new materials, telling a story of sophistication with fresh textures of tile, glass and wood. Mirrors are placed strategically to create dynamic perspectives and voyeuristic moments between interior and exterior while inviting guests into cross gazes. The spatial and material strategies deployed to create a layered reading against the historical backdrop, offering guests a variety of experiences to explore within the space - moments of both public introversion and private extroversion.
Despite the compact 52 square meters of usable area, Neri&Hu’s asserts two figures into space: an oblong volume forming an arena-like enclosure that integrates all the functional needs of seating, display, chef’s preparation counter, privacy screen, as well as a round shape containing the wood-burning oven. Clad in handmade convex-curved white ceramic tiles, the enclosure features large openings framed with thick birch plywood that become seating benches for guests. Entering the arena, where the floor is adorned with narrow white ceramic tiles, guests are instantly transformed from spectators to performers on stage. The central communal table features a long custom pendant light above, while a series of lights by Viabizzuno create a stark modern contrast on the old limestone wall. Custom wood and fabric chairs, manufactured by De La Espada, are designed by Neri&Hu specifically for Papi Restaurant to fit within the limited footprint.
Minimalism in an environment of expressionism
Designed by BAU (Brearley Architects + Urbanists), Tonglu Archives Building is located in Hangzhou, China. In China, the perimeter block typology doesn't usually return the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) necessary to satisfy inner-urban densities. This leads to an over-reliance on detached towers to meet FAR requirements. The perimeter block with a tower extrusion, however, presents a useful hybrid.
'it is the least we could do: minimalism in an environment of expressionism.' - Steve Whitford (Partner)
Hybrid typology
Designed by BAU (Brearley Architects + Urbanists), Tonglu Archives Building is located in Hangzhou, China. In China, the perimeter block typology doesn't usually return the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) necessary to satisfy inner-urban densities. This leads to an over-reliance on detached towers to meet FAR requirements. The perimeter block with a tower extrusion, however, presents a useful hybrid.
The advantages of the perimeter block are combined with the capacity of the tower to maximize floor area. (Positive reinforcement of active urban street edges; well ventilated and naturally lit building interiors; and an internal courtyard that has the options of being private, semi-private-semi-public, or public space)
Metal petals
Surprisingly, all facades required vertical screens to prevent unwanted heat gain. Elegantly thin slab edges are projected past the window line and form horizontal ledges to sit vertical perforated metal sunscreens. These screens are closed enough to block the sun, yet open enough to not impede views out. Decks are then cut into the petals to provide outdoor space for each floor level and subtle visual relief to the petals' wall.
Minimalism 1. – Expressionism 0.
The program for this local government building is different: document archives, testing laboratories, staff canteen, a commercial street-front cafe, and a variety of closed and open office spaces. This suggests an architectural articulation of these programs. Besides, the typological hybrid offers an indication of the perimeter building and the tower.
However, rather than exploring these apparent solutions, the questions posed were: What are the program's differences? What are the differences generated by combining the perimeter block and tower typologies? And finally, what is the least we need to do to engage with these differences?
Semi-public courtyard
This centralized circulation strategy creates a semi-public outdoor space and provides opportunities for encounter and exchange among different public departments. It also provides an active area for lunch in a protected courtyard landscape.
The courtyard directly links the public footpath off the main southern entrance to a proposed pedestrian bridge to the northeast of the site. This diagonal shortcut further reinforces the semi-public nature of the courtyard.
Roofscape as displaced landscape
To encourage the staff to get out of the building and enjoy the river frontage or the courtyard, the paving from the ground floor interiors flows directly into the yard and out to the river's edge – a robust strategy for the future, when the ground floor develops more pubic and/or commercial programs.
The tower overlooks the perimeter block roof, and this space provides an opportunity for a significant private outdoor space for the building tenants. A garden pavilion for staff lunches or informal meetings sits within a roofscape that presents as a displaced landscape. The staff canteen opens on to this roofscape. Plant rooms have been disguised as additional garden pavilions.
More visible than we think
In a commercial and retail environment where every building is trying hard to be seen as different from its neighbours, advertising and signage dominate streetscapes. Buildings are becoming extensions of corporate logos and marketing campaigns – a minimal, elegant and calm public building may be more visible than we think.
Project Data
Project Name: Hangzhou Tonglu Archives Building
Project Status: Completed 2019
Location: Tonglu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
Client: Tonglu Urban Development and Management Co., Ltd.
Typology: Office
Program: Document archives; testing laboratories; office.
Year: 2016—2019
GFA: 26,700 m²
Construction Cost: RMB 136 million
BAU Project Team: James Brearley, Jens Eberhardt, Chen Zhiyong, Luo Huaili, Steve Whitford, Gao Weiguo, Chen Jian
Builder: Hangzhou Harbour Construction Co., Ltd.
Engineer+Documenting LDI: China United Engineering Company
Photographer：Xia Zhi
Light of hope - Tokyo Michiterasu 2020 winter illumination
This unique light and illumination event has become the area's winter tradition since Tokyo Millenario was first held in 1999. This year, Tokyo Michiterasu 2020 is still hosting during the global pandemic, hoping to light the way of all of us to the future: Michi (unknown) and terasu (light). This event hopes to deliver a message of support and thanks to the people working towards the new era (the "new normal") from Japan's heart. *fRAum®︎ is the main visual for art calligraphy.
Light of hope, one of the latest projects created by KAZUKI KUMONO & YOKO FRAKTUR This light and illumination event has become the area’s winter tradition. This year, Tokyo Michiterasu 2020, with the wish of lighting the way to the future: Since we may not be able to visit in life but you may also visit online during the pandemic. They hope to deliver a message of support and thanks to the people working towards the new era (the “new normal”) from the heart of Japan. This is one of the winter illuminations that you can enjoy both on-site and remotely.
fRAum®︎ is the main visual for art calligraphy.
You may find there are many different characteristics in the city of Tokyo. Where history, the future and culture meet. Surrounding Tokyo Station, this area continues to emerge as a unique city where history, tradition, culture, science, business, and innovation blend together dynamically and form a hub that connects Tokyo, Japan and the world.
This unique light and illumination event has become the area's winter tradition since Tokyo Millenario was first held in 1999. This year, Tokyo Michiterasu 2020 is still hosting during the global pandemic, hoping to light the way of all of us to the future: Michi (unknown) and terasu (light). This event hopes to deliver a message of support and thanks to the people working towards the new era (the "new normal") from Japan's heart.
For those who can’t visit in person, Tokyo Michiterasu 2020’s official website offers a particular movie. It features five short stories told by art calligraphy animals in Tokyo Station Marunouchi Station Square and on Gyoko-Dori Street. Please enjoy whereby the dark world grows with the light of hope.
Episode 1:
Living is not breathing but doing - Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Episode 2
Because love is, that forgives the conflict of opinion with mistakes and their own that person. - Florence nightingale
Episode 3
The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up - Mark Twain
Episode 4
If you fantasize anyway, it’s best to have a wonderful imagination. - Lucy Maud Montgomery
Episode 5
True courage and kindness go on with people together. - Samuel Smiles
The video will be released on December 24, 2020
Event Details
The name of the event: Tokyo Michiterasu 2020
Opening period: Thursday, December 10 - Friday, December 25, 2020, from 3:00 pm ～ 9:00pm
*Some of the online content is scheduled to be available until Thursday, December 31. AR is available both daytime and nighttime at the venue.
The venue: Tokyo Station Marunouchi Station Square, Gyoko-Dori Street
The hosts (in no particular order) East Japan Railway Company Tokyo Branch and Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.
Other sponsors (in no particular order)Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; Chiyoda Ward; The Chiyoda City Tourism Association; The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Tokyo International Forum Co., Ltd.; The Council for Area Development and Management of Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho.
For more information, please visit: https://www.tokyo-michiterasu.jp/en/