Press Release
Silver A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Goes to Yokohama Symphostage Complex Building by Obayashi Corporation
Obayashi Corporation recognized 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 30, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ Yokohama Symphostage Complex Building by Obayashi Corporation has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Silver A' Design Award
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 Yokohama Symphostage Complex Building
Yokohama Symphostage is a mixed-use complex building located in Minato Mirai, Yokohama, Japan. The building has a total floor area of about 183,000 square meters and contains offices, a hotel and shops. Yokohama Symphostage is connected to the pedestrian network that links central Yokohama with the surrounding areas. Two pedestrian routes cross the site and are joined by a multi-layered plaza with public facilities for gathering during events and disasters. Simulations of wind, sunlight and pedestrian flow guided the design of each space.
About Obayashi Corporation
He is Project Architect of Obayashi corporation that provides all kinds of buildings ( offices, condominiums, commercial facilities, factories, hospitals, schools, and more) for the varied needs of customers and society. They have completed many projects emblematic of the era and culture. In response to the social challenge of carbon neutrality in recent years, they are promoting initiatives such as environmentally responsible building construction, including wooden structures and interiors, and ZEB (Zero Energy Buildings), and eco-friendly construction using low-carbon material and fuel.
Award Record
Obayashi Corporation is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
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. It 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. Typical entries include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. The awarded architectural projects are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/architecture
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is 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. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously 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. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which 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, uploading a work and receiving a 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. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/170564
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/170564
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!170564
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/366345
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.obayashi.co.jp/en/
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Yokohama Symphostage Complex Building
- Function
- Complex Building
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Gainsboro, Dark Slate Gray, Black, Light Steel Blue and Lavender
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Obayashi Corporation
- Country
- Japan
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #170564
Credits
- Team
- Hiroshi Satake, Kenji Matsuoka, Daisuke Iwasaki and Ryosuke Okawa
- Image Credits
- Photographer Image#1,#5: Naomichi Sode (SS Co., Ltd) Image#2,#3,#4: Shinkenchiku-sha
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This is a complex with a total floor area of approx. 180,000 m2 and connected to the pedestrian network, an important infrastructure linking central Yokohama and its surrounding areas.Located on a site intersected by two key pedestrian axis which connect the Minato Mirai district to surrounding areas. Historically disconnected, these pedestrian spaces are revitalized and interconnected through a multi-layered plaza and lively public facilities where people can gather during events and disasters.
- Inspiration
- Taking advantage of the strengths of a consortium involving several business owners, the public facility is a developed sterically space with multiple uses being developed in an organic organizational manner, with each business owner taking charge of the programs in which they excel.The plaza is used for various lively events, including music events hosted by Yokohama City and Yamaha, creating an environment where people naturally gather.
- Research
- The project deployed unique methodologies exclusive to our Technical Research Institute. Wind environment simulations covering the entire area validated the minimal impact on the environment. This confirmed the utility of high-rise terraces, and natural ventilation systems. Additional achievements included evacuation planning through comprehensive safety assessments, acoustic environment simulations for complex geometries, and the creation of organically shaped benches by 3D printing.
- Challenge
- Achieving Cost-Effective Energy Savings and Decarbonization with Advanced Design Methods The project utilized advanced heat load simulations (EcoSimule) to strategically incorporate features such as double-skin curtain walls, solar shading fins, and energy-efficient air conditioning systems selected for their cost-effectiveness. As a result, the project efficiently achieved BELS 5-star, ZEB Ready, and CASBEE Yokohama S-rank certifications.
- Realization and Technology
- The multi-layered plaza was planned using simulations for wind, sunlight, and pedestrian flow to optimize each space for its intended use. The large glass roofs adjust the environment of semi-outdoor spaces.For the office areas, solar simulations led to the exterior wall design to achieve an optimal balance of sunlight for air conditioning and lighting efficiency. Automated control of jalousie windows and blinds further integrates environmental factors into a comfortable working environment.
- Operation and Interaction
- The main circulation paths traverse the first and second floors of the site, with vibrant public facilities concentrated in the lower levels. Adjacent multi-layered plazas are tailored to the characteristics of these facilities, designed to allow indoor activities to blend seamlessly with the outdoors. These spaces aim to amplify and diffuse activities across external areas and other floors.
- Project Duration and Location
- Location : Minato Mirai, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan Construction period : April 2021 - March 2024
- Specifications
- Location : Minato Mirai, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan Use : Office,Hotel,Store Construction period : April 2021 - March 2024 Site area : 20,620.58 m2 Building area : 14,723.65 m2 Total floor area : 182,937.70 m2 Number of floors : 1 story below fround,30 floors Maximum Height : West Building:158.633m , East Building: 89.733m Structure : steel construction (part of columns, cft construction)partially steel-framed reinforced concrete construction.
- Keywords
- Architecture, Pedestrian, Plaza, Seascape, Simulation, Sustainability, BELS, ZEB, Obayashi
