FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"Embraced in Recycled Steel": A Sustainable Office Design Showcasing Recycled Steel and Innovative Lighting in Yamaguchi, Japan

Nobuaki Miyashita's latest project, "Embraced in Recycled Steel," has received the prestigious Golden A' Design Award 2025 in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. Completed in early 2024 in Yamaguchi, Japan, the office was designed for Kyoei Steel, a company renowned for its dedication to recycling and sustainable manufacturing. The building's concept draws inspiration from the transformation of scrap metal into new steel products, with the exterior mimicking stacked billets to visually narrate the cycle of recycling and regeneration.

The interior of the office is a showcase of Kyoei Steel's own materials, including angle steel, rebars, and flat bars, which are typically hidden in construction but here are celebrated as key design elements. Unique features such as barcode and QR code motifs are integrated throughout the space, extending into the lighting design. Seamless LED fixtures and steel louvers create dynamic three-dimensional patterns, symbolizing the interplay of steel and light while reflecting the company's technological prowess and vision for the future.

The project was realized through extensive architectural research, material analysis, and lighting simulations, involving close collaboration between designers, engineers, and technical experts. Overcoming challenges in blending factory functionality with symbolic architectural expression, the team developed multiple prototypes to perfect the QR code-inspired vertical design and lighting integration. The result is a sustainable, innovative workspace that not only enhances operational efficiency and employee engagement but also serves as a living showroom for the potential of recycled steel in contemporary architecture.

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