Awards

Firstly, the entrance hall, where visitors are welcomed by a pit-shaped staircase, is truly impressive. The narrowing of the entrance created by the pit, along with the security gate installed in the bottlenecked space, results in a highly logical and efficient layout. On the first floor, the workplace extends toward the back, with floors at varying heights that respond to the pit and staircase, gently dividing the space and offering a variety of areas. One can easily imagine a dynamic work environment where employees select the most suitable space based on the tasks they are engaged in at the time. In contrast to the first floor, the basement level presents a completely different atmosphere with its bright, white interior, likely encouraging a shift in work mode for employees. This workplace, filled with a variety of stimulating elements, is undoubtedly deserving of a Good Design Award.

When I had come across this building in the past, I was aware that Kabutocho has been changing. Still, this building is an example of how the neighborhood is coming alive organically not only through large-scale redevelopment but also through a combination of small-scale projects. Rather than concentrating many stores in the building, which is typical of big redevelopment projects, this one features a ‘street corner’ space. The outdoor area was opened up by removing parts of the structure, and materials were reused to create tactile textures and evoke the building’s historical background. By bringing together these small elements of time and history, the designers succeeded in creating a place where people can feel a sense of belonging. Generally, cities develop in layers over time, and this project demonstrates how realizing that concept appeals to many people. It shows the potential for developing our cities like the way trees are grown through grafting.

This project is unique in that it encases a wooden structure within a steel-reinforced concrete frame. By leveraging the design expertise and characteristics of wooden houses, the designers have successfully created varied space layouts on each floor, giving the building the appearance of a low-rise wooden structure.

The HEART is one of the world’s largest rotating LED displays, and thanks to its location at a street corner, it commands an impressive presence and powerful information delivery. Although Nihonbashi Kabutocho is inevitably losing some of its vibrancy as a financial district due to the closure of the Tokyo Stock Exchange trading floor, The HEART captures the desire of those involved in the exchange to convey the area’s significance and history to visitors. By visualizing the energy of stock trading, which has become harder to grasp since its digitalization, The HEART brings this history to life. We also appreciate the display’s name, as it likens the market’s sensitivity to world affairs to the beating of a heart. We hope that the dynamic images displayed by this massive, moving structure will become a new symbol of Nihonbashi Kabutocho.

Completed in 1923, the year of the Great Kanto Earthquake, this bank annex building has been renovated, with its façade restored. The restoration preserved various vestiges added over the past 97 years, while maintaining the architectural style of the Taisho period. Rather than emphasizing the building’s historical and symbolic aspects, the restoration aimed to highlight its long-established presence in the area. Notably, the renovation of this relatively small building marks the beginning of a process to design a local hub, preceding a larger revitalization project covering approximately 10 hectares.