Click hereNTT Urban Development Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kou Ikeda; hereinafter referred to as "our company") is pleased to announce that it has received the 2025 Good Design Award, sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, for seven properties: G-Lion Arena Kobe, MORI no KI TERRACE (Hiroshima Prefectural Office Site Effective Utilization Project), HiroPa, HAROW, Wellith Stage Motoazabu, Wellith Daikanyama Sarugakucho Terrace, and HARUMI FLAG. This latest win marks our 14th consecutive year of winning the Good Design Award.
<Award-winning property>
G-Lion Arena Kobe (Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture)
Photo: © SS Corporation: Hiroyuki Tsuda
【overview】
This project aims to transform the waterfront area from a port logistics hub into a vibrant hub. A horseshoe-shaped seating arrangement has been created on a long, narrow site of approximately 65m on a pier surrounded by the sea on 270 degrees, making for a 10,000-seat arena. In addition to the symbolic "V" shape of the building, which takes into consideration the night view and reducing environmental impact, the integrated development with the surrounding plaza will drive change in the port city of Kobe.
[Evaluation by the judges]
Arenas attract people and bring excitement to the city when events are held, but a major operational issue is whether they can attract customers on a daily basis at other times. This facility is conveniently located near Sannomiya Station, and the lower floors of the facility are lined with restaurants facing the sea, and despite the limited site, a cozy landscape design has been carefully implemented to allow visitors to enjoy the port scenery. The seating, which can accommodate 10,000 people, has been positioned to make good use of the unique, long and narrow site of the pier, providing an immersive experience that can only be found here. The symbolic V-shape adds to the Kobe port scenery that has been built up over many years, creating an attractive landscape, including the night view.
MORI no KI TERRACE (Hiroshima Prefectural Office Site Effective Utilization Project) (Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture)
The camphor tree planted in the center was transplanted from the Prefectural Office Forest behind the building.
The prefectural office building (completed in 1956) stands in front and on the left.
The white paving is made from recycled oyster shell blocks
Photo: © Nakamura E Photography Studio
【overview】
This project sees our company leasing part of the Hiroshima Prefectural Government Office site for approximately 20 years, and developing and operating stores and a grassy plaza for the public. To create a prefectural office that is open to the city and creates a lively atmosphere, we aimed to create a sustainable prototype for future public facilities, where the public and private sectors would work together to find solutions to the maintenance and functional renewal challenges that many public facilities face.
[Evaluation by the judges]
While there has been a significant increase in efforts to have private companies manage public land, raise maintenance and operating costs, and provide sustainable public services, the challenge of leasing part of the prefectural office site to the private sector, rather than using it as a park or road, will significantly increase the value of the office building, which is visited by many citizens, and should lead to a greater sense of enrichment in the lives of citizens. The forest planted when the office building was first constructed has grown, and thinning and transplanting have created a favorable environment for the trees. While the building's simple, boxy design echoes the sophisticated modernist architecture of the office building, careful design—separate buildings, subtle variations in height, and offsets—allows the architecture and forest to blend in seamlessly. The parking lot in front of the office building, which typically prioritizes functionality, has been transformed into a space beloved by citizens, and this series of initiatives is admirable, as it will be passed on to future generations.
HiroPa (Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture)
【overview】
This project was planned for Hiroshima, a regional core city where large commercial facilities are at the center of people's lives, to create a commercial facility in the city center that coexists with the local water and greenery, fostering a lifestyle that makes full use of parks.We aimed for a commercial facility that would complement the everyday bustle and relaxation scenes while being close to the new stadium, which will create an extraordinary excitement, and become an "urban oasis" that will foster local activities, harmonizing with the surrounding environment.
[Evaluation by the judges]
This is a good example of a park PFI that has redefined the central area of a regional core city. The new urban stadium, which was originally a suburban soccer stadium, has redefined the flow of people, the bustle, and even lifestyles. This project is highly praised for realizing a central park, something that would have been difficult to achieve in urban areas in Japan, a country with a small land area. The plan for the park and commercial facilities will act as a buffer between the dynamic area of the stadium, with its enthusiasm, excitement, cheers, and bustle, and the quieter areas such as Hiroshima Castle and Peace Memorial Park, and is expected to become an oasis not only for local residents but also for visitors to Hiroshima.
HAROW (Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture)
【overview】
This project transformed two telephone exchange buildings, which had deep roots in the community, into new places (infrastructure) that are open to the local community while preserving their history. It created a landscape that blends seamlessly with the street, and created a hub for commerce and interaction. In a regional city facing economic stagnation, this is a sustainable regeneration model that combines memory and function, starting from the base of the "telecommunications tower," a symbol of the city and found throughout the country.
[Evaluation by the judges]
With the spread of communications technology, many parts of the many telephone exchange buildings that remain throughout the country are no longer needed, and the challenge is what to do with these sturdy, closed-off buildings. Here, the plan was evaluated as opening up the existing building to the outside through renovation in the areas facing the city, utilizing the surplus land to create a face for the city, providing a place for people to gather and supporting those starting businesses and commerce in the area. This project has seen a dramatic transformation from the original closed-off space, with light reconstruction using containers and the creation of public space by setting back parts of the exterior walls.
Wellith Stage Motoazabu (Minato Ward, Tokyo)
Art gallery-like entrance hall
【overview】
This is a renovation project for an apartment building located in a unique, quiet and peaceful location in the heart of the city. In order to give the existing building, which was completed 38 years ago, comfort, durability, and design with an eye to the future, we worked with leading designers to further enhance and sustain its value.
[Evaluation by the judges]
This is a high-quality renovation of a condominium, with a highly integrated interior, exterior, and boundary design. It exudes a holistic atmosphere that would be impossible to achieve by simply completing a renovation menu. This is due to the high level of design integration, with renovations that are important not only for visual appeal but also for the physical experience and environmental impact. Furthermore, the comparison of CO2 emissions and the demonstration of the superiority of high-quality renovation over rebuilding show a sincere attitude toward the future.
Wellith Daikanyama Sarugakucho Terrace (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo)
Alleyway landscape design
【overview】
This apartment complex was created with the reconstruction of the alleys of Daikanyama as its starting point. The landscape design of the alleys, which are open to the local community, has been used to restore the townscape, and this value has been incorporated into the residences, resulting in an apartment complex that coexists with the town.
[Evaluation by the judges]
This apartment complex reinterprets Daikanyama's historic alleyway culture and strives to harmonize with the local community. The proposed site is located at the beginning of an alley known as "Nanamagari," and the goal was to recreate the charming streetscape of the past. The landscape features a symbolic white oak tree and continuous plantings to create a soft buffer zone, creating a natural connection between residents and the town. The architecture aims to be a "building that connects with the town," and its uneven shape makes use of the open space in front of the windows to reduce the feeling of oppression. The opening structure incorporates the aesthetics of the "ma" space in Noh theater, and the design skillfully captures light and breezes. Angled louvers are used on the balconies to block views while allowing for ventilation and natural lighting. Medium-sized and tall trees are placed along the axis of the units to form a buffer zone with neighboring properties, creating a comfortable space where sunlight filters through the trees.
HARUMI FLAG (Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
【overview】
The project aims to pass on "memories and resources," "sustainable urban functions," and "human and biodiversity" to future generations after temporary use as the athletes' village for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and to achieve harmony throughout the city.
[Evaluation by the judges]
This project explores a new urban landscape while utilizing the resources of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village. By reusing the structure of existing buildings and updating the interiors and facilities, the project achieves environmentally friendly and regenerative housing, making it an example of sustainable urban development. Twenty-five designers representing different generations and specialties participated in the project, creating a unified streetscape while respecting diversity. Universal design ensures a comfortable living environment for everyone, with meticulous attention paid to details such as wide walkways and highly visible signage. Furthermore, a greening plan that takes into consideration the local vegetation and ecosystem, with approximately 4,500 trees planted, fostering a natural connection with the surrounding area. The project's achievement of multiple international environmental certifications demonstrates its high level of design philosophy and execution, suggesting a new direction in urban development. By balancing functionality and environmental friendliness without relying on excessive ornamentation, HARUMI FLAG embodies an ideal modern city.
<Reference: What is the Good Design Award?>
The Good Design Award is given to a variety of things that surround us, including products, architecture, software, systems, and services. Regardless of whether they have form or not, the award recognizes design as anything that humans have created to achieve some ideal or purpose, and evaluates and honors the quality of that design.
Furthermore, in an increasingly complex society, expectations for design are rising as it is needed to solve problems and discover new themes. Through its judging process and diverse promotions, the Good Design Award supports people who discover the potential of design, expands the scope of what design can do and where it can be utilized, and aims to create a society in which each and every one of us can live rich and creative lives.
The Good Design Award is an initiative to improve our lives and society through design. Since its launch in 1957, it has been widely recognized along with its symbol, the "G Mark."
The Good Design Award is given to a variety of things that surround us, including products, architecture, software, systems, and services. Regardless of whether they have form or not, the award recognizes design as anything that humans have created to achieve some ideal or purpose, and evaluates and honors the quality of that design.
Furthermore, in an increasingly complex society, expectations for design are rising as it is needed to solve problems and discover new themes. Through its judging process and diverse promotions, the Good Design Award supports people who discover the potential of design, expands the scope of what design can do and where it can be utilized, and aims to create a society in which each and every one of us can live rich and creative lives.
For inquiries, please contact
Public Relations Office Kobari and Abe
nttud-pr@ntt-us.com