Press Release
Material Dialogue Mixed Used Building by Chih Ming Tu Is Granted the Bronze A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
Chih Ming Tu honored for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category for Material Dialogue Mixed Used Building by Chih Ming Tu. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 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.
What the Bronze A' Design Award Means
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
More About Material Dialogue Mixed Used Building
Material Dialogue is a mixed-use building that combines corporate offices with a production workshop. The four-story front volume faces the main road and holds the offices, while a double-height rear volume contains the workshop. The facade uses a dark grey stone frame with white vertical masses, recalling the raw materials of casting. Deep balconies on the east and south sides give shading and sheltered outdoor space. Inside, a double-height lobby holds an open cast iron staircase and a tile wall. Greenery and a reflecting pond soften the industrial setting.
Award Record
With this recognition, Chih Ming Tu is 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. 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/175853
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/175853
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!175853
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/372459
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
- Material Dialogue Mixed Used Building
- Function
- Mixed Used Building
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Steel Blue, Silver, Dark Gray, Light Gray and Light Slate Gray
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Chih Ming Tu
- Country
- Taiwan (China)
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #175853
Credits
- Image Credits
- Dirk Heindoerfer Photography
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The Xinli Factory Office transcends the conventional image of an industrial building, embodying the client's aspiration for an elevated corporate identity that reflects both their established casting heritage and a forward-thinking vision. The design capitalizes on its visibility, presenting a dynamic and considered facade from all accessible viewpoints.
- Inspiration
- Situated on a prominent corner lot at the intersection of two roads, the design capitalizes on its visibility, presenting a dynamic and considered facade from all accessible viewpoints. The core concept revolves around a harmonious interplay between robust materiality, functional clarity, and an infusion of artistic sensibility, creating a workplace that is both efficient and inspiring.
- Challenge
- The material palette is carefully curated to reflect the client's industry and aspirations. The grounding dark grey stone of the facade alludes to the raw materials of casting, providing a sense of permanence and strength. Contrasting white painted surfaces offer a clean and modern counterpoint. Wood-grain fair-faced concrete adds a textural richness and subtle warmth to specific areas. Inside, the deliberate use of cast iron for the open staircase and railings reinforces the industrial context while showcasing the potential for intricate craftsmanship.
- Realization and Technology
- The project incorporates passive design principles, including the orientation of glazed surfaces to optimize natural light while minimizing excessive solar heat gain. Deep balconies on the east and south-facing sides provide shading and create intermediate outdoor spaces. The client's subsequent installation of a significant photovoltaic array on the expansive, optimally oriented roof of the workshop underscores a commitment to renewable energy. The landscaping design further softens the industrial presence, integrating greenery and a reflecting pond at the front entrance.
- Operation and Interaction
- The building is articulated into distinct yet interconnected volumes that respond directly to programmatic needs and site conditions. The front section, a four-story structure facing the main thoroughfare, houses the corporate offices. Its facade is defined by a strong, dark grey stone frame contrasted with crisp white, vertically oriented masses - a deliberate composition intended to project a sense of stability and contemporary dynamism. Large glazed openings within this section provide ample natural light to the workspaces. The rear volume, a double-height space, accommodates the primary workshop.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in September 2023 and finished end of June 2024 in Xinli County, Taiwan.
- Keywords
- Mixed-used Architecture, Factory , Steel , texture
