Ten by Ikuyo Nakama wins Silver A' Design Award

The A' Design Award has given Ten, a private residence in Okinawa, Japan, a Silver honor in Architecture, Building and Structure Design. The project stands out for its climate-responsive layout, garden integration and passive design strategy in a subtropical setting.

Why it matters: - Ten offers a climate-responsive housing model for hot, humid regions. - The residence shows how garden preservation, passive cooling and durable materials can work together in contemporary residential architecture. - The award highlights design approaches that reduce dependence on mechanical systems while improving comfort and resilience.

What happened: - The A' Design Award named Ten, a residential house by Ikuyo Nakama, a Silver winner in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. - Ten is a private residence in Okinawa, Japan. - The recognition was announced June 19, 2026. - The A' Design Award positions the Silver designation as one of the field's respected honors after evaluation by an expert jury panel. - More information is available on the award page.

The details: - Ten preserves an existing garden and uses it as a central spatial and climatic element. - The design keeps long-cherished greenery as part of the architecture. - Layered courtyards, terraces and deep eaves form a three-dimensional passive system. - The system supports natural ventilation and solar control. - Okinawa's intense solar radiation, high humidity and frequent typhoons shaped the design response. - A reinforced concrete structure provides durability and thermal stability. - Local stone and timber add material continuity suited to the subtropical climate. - Climatic analysis of wind paths, solar angles and seasonal change informed the layout. - The layered spaces blur interior and exterior conditions and create a quiet, enduring quality.

Between the lines: - The award signals continued interest in architecture that treats climate as a design driver rather than a constraint. - Ten also fits a broader push toward energy efficiency, durability and stronger connections to place. - The project may serve as a reference point for subtropical housing and other sites with demanding weather. - The recognition could encourage Ikuyo Nakama Architect and Associates to keep refining passive strategies for similar climates.

What's next: - The award is likely to give Ten broader visibility among architects, homeowners and design clients. - The project adds to the conversation about sustainable residential design that unites architecture, landscape and climate. - Ikuyo Nakama Architect and Associates is expected to continue exploring quiet architecture rooted in climate, landscape and memory. - The A' Design Award also invites future submissions and promotes projects across architecture and design.