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A closer look at Tokyo's Escenario SHIROKANE, an Architecture MasterPrize winner

2021-12-30T15:20:00-05:00

Ryuichi Sasaki/Sasaki Architecture has returned to the international spotlight with its winning entry for the mixed-use portion of this year’s Architecture MasterPrize that adds an iconic new touch to one of Tokyo’s oldest neighborhoods.

Located in the city’s Minato ward, the five-story structure hosts a ground floor restaurant underneath three floors of residential units topped off by a fifth floor defined by a double-height maisonette that plays host to an office.

Photo: TAKUMI OTA PHOTOGRAPHY

The spaces themselves are designed to have large openings that create a high degree of “spatial freedom” and movement within a flexible floorplan. Outside, a distinctive shimmering effect is achieved through the mixture of Shinko stainless steel panels and reinforced concrete load-bearing walls. The entire site area encompasses nearly 91 square meters (980 square feet) of remade high-density urban landscape.

Photo: TAKUMI OTA PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo: TAKUMI OTA PHOTOGR...

A closer look at HAKUTEN's light installation [Prism], an Architecture MasterPrize winner

2021-12-08T16:51:00-05:00

The light and air art installation [Prism] by Japanese studio HAKUTEN was recently named as one of the “Best of the Best” winners of the 2021 Architecture MasterPrize.

Situated on an old military installation in Kanagawa Prefecture called Sarushima, the installation refracts light into a colorful array to create a map of the island’s coastal outline using its extant network of gun batteries as nodes that connect each ray of light in a dazzling display meant to evoke the memory of its past historic uses.

[Prism] © Kim Dong-Gyu

Visitors could immerse themselves in the light-saturated sand while taking in views of nearby Yokosuka City as they reflect on the physical space and temporal nature of the site.

According to the architects: “This work does not seek to glorify war. HAKUTEN simply believes that it is important to preserve memories of the past through various expressions of art and design that prevent them from being forgotten,” adding that they wish to “spr...

William / Kaven's new Oregon residence among 2020 Architecture MasterPrize winners

2020-11-04T12:21:00-05:00

William / Kaven Architecture has been awarded a 2020 Architecture MasterPrize for Royal, the first in a series of homes to be developed on a parcel of woodland at the edge of Portland's Forest Park that is owned by William / Kaven and associated partners.

Royal includes four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, common areas with open floor plans and an oversized garage. Hiking trails surround the home, further connecting residents to the surrounding landscape, something already emphasized through the structure's floor to ceiling glass walls.

The Architecture MasterPrize celebrates design excellence and innovation from architectural, interior, and landscape design disciplines. Other recipients of this year's MasterPrize for Architecture include Tadao Ando, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Vo Trong Nghia, Gensler, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, Hopkins Architects, and Da Costa Mahindroo Architects.