Prize(s) Winners in Workplace Lighting Design
Lighting Design/Product Company MR STUDIO Co., Ltd. + KOIZUMI Lighting Technology Corporation
Lead Designers Nobuaki Miyashita (MR STUDIO Co., Ltd.) + Atsuko Mihara (KOIZUMI Lighting Technology)
Other Designer's names Architectural Design : Masahiko Tokunaga, Tetsuya Nagayoshi (Okumura Corporation)
Architecture Company Okumura Corporation + MR STUDIO Co., Ltd.
Interior Design Company Okumura Corporation + MR STUDIO Co., Ltd.
Client KYOEI STEEL LTD.
Photo Credits Nobuaki Miyashita (MR STUDIO Co., Ltd.) + Sato Kenta (JXPhoto CO., LTD.)
Other Credits Architectural Design : Yukari Hirose, Miki Kase (MR STUDIO Co., Ltd.)
Completion Date July 31, 2024
Project Location Sanyo-Onoda City, Yamaguchi-ken, Japan
Entry DescriptionKyoei Steel is a leading Japanese company that recycles scrap steel and produces structural steel using electric arc furnaces. Its core mission is to renew “steel that has fulfilled its role,” transforming it into new products while also applying its expertise to environmental recycling. This project renews the aging office and welfare buildings at the Yamaguchi plant, aiming to improve efficiency while embodying Kyoei Steel’s identity and creating a workplace that fosters pride. The architectural concept, “An Office Embraced in Recycled Steel,” symbolizes the transformation of scrap into structural material. The exterior draws inspiration from stacked billets in the factory, while the interior incorporates steel angles and rebar as finishes, reinforcing sustainability and corporate values. Barcode and QR code motifs—symbols of traceability—extend across entrances, corridors, staircases, and workspaces, creating a spatial experience where steel and light interact. The design highlights the raw strength and expressive potential of steel, exploring its architectural role beyond convention while making the brand identity tangible. Lighting amplifies the concept by translating digital patterns into three-dimensional effects, adding depth and movement. Through light, the project symbolizes identity and evolution, presenting a striking vision of the company’s future.
Sustainability ApproachThe sustainability of this project is rooted in Kyoei Steel’s recycling philosophy. The office embodies the circular economy, turning the mission of reviving steel that has fulfilled its role into architectural expressLighting design plays a key role, converting digital patterns into immersive three-dimensional effects and using highly efficient LEDs for significant energy reduction. Light goes beyond illumination, adding depth, motion, and atmosphere while symbolizing the company’s evolution and creating a sustainable spatial experience.ion. Recycled steel angles and rebar are used as finishes, extending their life cycle beyond industrial function. Barcode and QR code motifs, symbols of traceability, visualize sustainability values. Integrating office and welfare facilities reduces land use and energy, while spatial planning maximizes daylight and natural ventilation.
