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/