Press Release
Catch The Wind Multi Unit Housing by Shigeki Kumazawa Is Granted the Silver A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
Shigeki Kumazawa acknowledged for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 20, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ Catch The Wind Multi Unit Housing by Shigeki Kumazawa, designed for Seiwa Corporation, has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The result belongs to the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Silver A' Design Award Means
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
About Catch The Wind Multi Unit Housing
Catch The Wind is a rental housing complex located in a central urban area. The fourteen story reinforced concrete building features three dimensional balconies that capture wind and guide it into the interior. Fresh air circulates through chambers in closet and bathroom ceilings before leaving through adjustable vents, which lowers humidity and improves indoor air quality. Standard off the shelf components keep construction economical. The design aims to strengthen the connection between residents and the outdoors in a dense city setting.
About Shigeki Kumazawa
I contribute to society by creating architecture that enhances people’s lives while respecting the environment. I pursue innovative designs with a strong sense of responsibility toward sustainability and aim to build spaces that inspire and endure.
Award Record
This recognition makes Shigeki Kumazawa a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award
The A' Architecture Design Award is an international architectural design competition recognizing good architectural designs by best architects worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to architectural design studios, building contractors, structural engineering firms and architecture and design consultants from all countries. Entries typically include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. Awarded architectural projects are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/architecture
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/158996
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/158996
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!158996
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/368751
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Catch The Wind Multi Unit Housing
- Function
- Multi Unit Housing
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Dark Slate Gray, Cornflower Blue, Steel Blue, Royal Blue and Dark Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Seiwa Corporation
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Shigeki Kumazawa
- Country
- Japan
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #158996
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer:Yasuko Okamura
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Catch The Wind is a centrally located rental housing complex featuring an innovative balcony design to boost urban connection and airflow. Unlike traditional balconies, its three dimensional structure captures wind, circulating fresh air through chambers in closet and bathroom ceilings to improve indoor air quality. This economical approach uses off the shelf materials, addressing post pandemic social and environmental needs by enhancing resident interaction with the outdoors.
- Inspiration
- The idea arose from noticing the gap between urban rental housing and its surroundings. Many apartments feel cut off from nature, leading to stagnant air and limited outdoor interaction. To improve residents' quality of life, we envisioned a solution introducing natural airflow and urban engagement via innovative balcony design. We aimed to create healthier, more connected living while emphasizing the importance of fresh air and nature, blending functionality with environmental sensitivity.
- Research
- Research Objectives: Explore innovative solutions for natural ventilation and improved urban living in high-density areas. Participants: Architects, urban planners, and engineers. Results: Research showed that 3D balcony systems improve ventilation, lower humidity, and enhance comfort. These findings shaped designs to channel wind effectively into living spaces. Impacts: This approach promotes sustainable living by improving air quality, cutting energy costs, and creating healthier urban housing models.
- Challenge
- The most challenging aspect of this design was encouraging residents to consciously engage with ventilation in a natural and effortless way. In an urban environment, where ventilation is often difficult, it was crucial to create a design that enabled residents to seamlessly incorporate the flow of air into their daily lives. The wind-capturing balconies provide opportunities for residents to naturally bring fresh air into their living spaces, making it easier to be mindful of ventilation. To achieve this, factors such as airflow and privacy considerations were carefully balanced.
- Realization and Technology
- Catch The Wind employs a three dimensional balcony structure optimized for urban airflow management. Standardized, off-the-shelf components were strategically used to balance cost efficiency with high performance. The design integrates airflow chambers within closets and unit bath ceilings, creating natural ventilation that circulates through the space. The structural framework utilizes reinforced concrete for durability, while modular fittings enable streamlined assembly, ensuring resilience and ease of maintenance in high-density urban environments.
- Operation and Interaction
- Catch The Wind enhances living by improving airflow and connection to the outdoors. The three-dimensional balconies are designed to catch and channel wind through the building, creating natural ventilation. Residents experience fresher air as it flows through closets and bathrooms before exiting via adjustable vents. This design reduces humidity, improves air quality, and fosters a healthier, more comfortable indoor environment, blending the inside and outside seamlessly.
- Project Duration and Location
- This project, completed in 2023, is located in the central area of Nagoya City, Japan, a bustling urban hub surrounded by offices and residential buildings. Catch The Wind sits directly in front of an elementary school, blending into a vibrant community where people of various generations live and interact. Its strategic location aims to enhance the urban living experience while fostering connections between residents and their environment.
- Specifications
- Catch The Wind project is a 14 story reinforced concrete structure designed for urban rental housing. The site area is 367.70 sqm, with a building area of 220.06 sqm and a total floor area of 2475.74 sqm. The building reaches a maximum height of 42.59 meters. Its structural system prioritizes durability and seismic resilience, contributing to sustainability through architectural longevity and improved living environments.
- Keywords
- Urban housing, airflow management, natural ventilation, sustainable architecture, urban connection, cost-efficient design, post-pandemic housing, balcony design,
