Press Release
Ref Okinawa Arena Hotel by Uds Ltd. Receives the A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Uds Ltd. for interior space and exhibition design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 20, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Ref Okinawa Arena Hotel by Uds Ltd., designed for Sukoyaka Holdings, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. The award was conferred within 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 scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the A' Design Award
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
More About Ref Okinawa Arena Hotel
Ref Okinawa Arena is a hotel located inland on Okinawa Island, away from the coastal resort areas. The eight-story reinforced concrete building has a total floor area of about 5,929 square meters and contains 150 guest rooms, restaurants, two rental meeting spaces, a sauna, a pool and a rooftop bar. The exterior facade is based on the hana-block, a traditional Okinawan vent block, with frames in tropical green and brick red. The first two floors are multifunctional spaces linked by a central staircase and open to a terrace garden facing a public park.
About Uds Ltd.
UDS is a design firm dedicated to creating sustainable, fun and lively urban spaces by pursuing an optimum balance of social responsibility and business profitability. We are a one-stop provider of business planning, architectural design, and commercial operation services, all under one roof. Whatever the use or function, every space we create is truly unique to the community it serves, and we achieve it by integrating all aspects of the physical environment.
Award Record
With this recognition, Uds Ltd. is a winner of 10 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2020 - 2021 and the 2024 - 2025 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award
The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Typical entries include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. The awarded interior designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/interior
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/164514
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/164514
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!164514
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/301823
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
- Ref Okinawa Arena Hotel
- Function
- Hotel
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Peru, Silver, Gray, Light Gray and White Smoke
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Sukoyaka Holdings
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Uds Ltd.
- Country
- Japan
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #164514
Credits
- Team
- Norito Nakahara, Anna Naganuma, Kaito Fujita and Thanaporn Lohavichitranon
- Image Credits
- Image #No1 : Photographer Nacasa & Partners Inc., Ref okinawa arena, 2023 Image #No2 : Photographer Nacasa & Partners Inc., Ref okinawa arena, 2023 Image #No3 : Photographer Nacasa & Partners Inc., Ref okinawa arena, 2023 Image #No4 : Photographer Nacasa & Partners Inc., Ref okinawa arena, 2023 Image #No5 : Photographer Nacasa & Partners Inc., Ref okinawa arena, 2023
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Ref Okinawa arena is located in the heart of Okinawa island, renowned for its seaside beauty. However, this inland location offers a vibrant contrast to the coastal areas. Known for its sports venues and nostalgic American nightlife, influenced by the nearby U.S. military base, it represents a rich cultural tapestry. This project aims to highlight an alternative side of Okinawa by focusing on local culture and community spirit, offering a fresh perspective on the island's unique charms.
- Inspiration
- The concept draws from the Okinawan word 'Champuru,' meaning 'mixed,' symbolizing the fusion of traditional Okinawan, Mainland Japanese, Southeast Asian, and American influences. It celebrates this multicultural charm through local materials and collaborations with local artists and the hometown basketball team. The project illustrates how a commercial venture can integrate with the community, enhancing guest experiences and fostering local pride in an environmentally conscious manner.
- Research
- Adjacent to a U.S. military base, the project highlights the strong influence of American culture in Okinawa. During the colonial period, Okinawa adopted American education and lifestyle, creating a unique blend of American and traditional Okinawan cultures. Despite this rich diversity, a venue is needed to effectively share this cultural fusion. We propose a hotel that encapsulates the charm of Okinawa City, showcasing its distinctive cultural identity and celebrating its multifaceted heritage.
- Challenge
- While Okinawa is known for its seaside, this project offers a fresh perspective by highlighting often-overlooked inland charms. Situated away from the beach, the hotel emphasizes local culture, traditions, and community spirit, creating a unique identity distinct from coastal resorts. Additionally, under Park PFI regulations, the ground floor design blends with the surrounding greenery to create a public space that benefits the community.
- Realization and Technology
- The exterior facade draws from the 'hana-block,' a traditional Okinawan vent block, with a modern twist. Each frame features two colors: tropical green, symbolizing Okinawa’s lush environment, and brick red, reflecting the region’s clay architecture. This duality creates a dynamic effect that captures Okinawa's vibrant spirit as the colors shift with the viewing angle. Inside the guest rooms, the color schemes vary by floor, adding a playful and distinctive touch to the hotel’s design.
- Operation and Interaction
- Designed with the community in mind, the hotel's first two floors are multifunctional spaces connected by a central staircase. These spaces open to a terrace garden, linking to the public park across the street and creating a welcoming lounge for locals. The top floor features a pool and music bar inspired by 'Music Town,' a nearby American-influenced venue. This setup encourages both guests and locals to engage in activities from day to night, fostering a vibrant neighborhood atmosphere.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project began in May 2021, was completed in July 2023, and opened in August 2023 to coincide with the Basketball World Cup at the nearby Okinawa Arena. To celebrate the hometown basketball team, we collaborated with local artists to create two uniquely themed guest rooms inspired by the team's identity.
- Specifications
- The eight-story building, constructed with a reinforced concrete structure, spans a total floor area of approximately 5,929.48 square meters. The hotel features 150 guest rooms, multiple restaurants, two rental meeting spaces, a sauna, a pool, and a rooftop bar.
- Keywords
- hotel, japan, okinawa, ref, okinawa arena
