JR Kumamoto Railway Station Building However,
won the Grand Prize at the International Living Future Institute’s 2022 Biophilic Design Awards
AWARDS
2022.05.24
Harunori Noda [Gankohsha]
The “JR Kumamoto Railway Station Building” project, designed by Nikken Sekkei, has won the 2022 “Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award,” presented by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) in the United States. Presented annually, this award recognizes achievements in the built environment—including buildings, interiors, and communities—that demonstrate the principles and benefits of biophilic design, which aims to connect people with nature through architecture.The announcement was made on May 12 during ILFI’s two-week event, “Living Future 2022: Restoration + Justice Summit.”
ILFI highlighted that this project embodies the unique natural charm of Kumamoto. Located in the “Kumamoto Prefectural Government” region of western Japan, the facility’s most distinctive feature is “Boken no Mori,” an indoor, multi-level garden of water and greenery that extends from the first to the seventh floor.The stair-shaped atrium allows natural light to flood in, while dozens of plant species native to Japan are arranged in an environment optimized through digital simulations and other methods. By incorporating nature into the spatial design, the project creates a rich environment where visitors can spend time as if enjoying a forest bath.
ILFI highlighted that this project embodies the unique natural charm of Kumamoto. Located in the “Kumamoto Prefectural Government” region of western Japan, the facility’s most distinctive feature is “Boken no Mori,” an indoor, multi-level garden of water and greenery that extends from the first to the seventh floor.The stair-shaped atrium allows natural light to flood in, while dozens of plant species native to Japan are arranged in an environment optimized through digital simulations and other methods. By incorporating nature into the spatial design, the project creates a rich environment where visitors can spend time as if enjoying a forest bath.
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Harunori Noda [Gankohsha]
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Harunori Noda [Gankohsha]
The Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award is named in honor of the late Dr. Stephen R. Kellert, a pioneer who applied the principles of biophilic design to the built environment and received numerous awards.Dr. Kellert served as a senior research fellow at Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, where he conducted research and made recommendations focused on the integration of sustainability-conscious design and development.
The International Living Future Institute operates under the philosophy that advocating a compelling vision for the future is a fundamental requirement for harmonizing the relationship between humanity and the natural world. ILFI established the “Living Building Challenge,” one of the world’s most rigorous environmental building standards.
The International Living Future Institute operates under the philosophy that advocating a compelling vision for the future is a fundamental requirement for harmonizing the relationship between humanity and the natural world. ILFI established the “Living Building Challenge,” one of the world’s most rigorous environmental building standards.
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