400 years ago, during the samurai era, Kanazawa City was one of Japan's leading economic powers, rivaling Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. This prosperity allowed for the preservation of many traditional crafts, among which gold leaf production has a long history. Today, 99% of Japan's gold leaf is manufactured in Kanazawa. This project is associated with a product hall attached to a highway parking area near Kanazawa City. The building serves as a sales space and includes public restroom facilities. The facade of the building is inspired by Kanazawa's samurai residences and features a simple, elegant design with wooden and black panels. The approach to the restroom is designed with a tense, black theme. The interior of the restroom is completely enveloped in gold leaf, creating a stunning, immersive golden space. Approximately 3,000 gold leaf tiles (200mm squares) used in this space are crafted using the refined techniques of 'Edged Gold Leaf,' recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The gold leaf is applied not only to the wall tiles but also to the toilets, allowing visitors to directly engage with Kanazawa's rich traditional culture during their highway rest stops.
Bio MR STUDIO Co., Ltd. is a premier design firm founded in Japan in 2017, driven by the mission to transform spaces into expressions of identity and purpose through innovative architectural concepts. Under the leadership of Nobuaki Miyashita, an architect with nearly three decades of experience, the firm has swiftly gained recognition for its forward-thinking and impactful approach. Each project undertaken is a testament to MR STUDIO’s dedication to exploring and fulfilling the potential needs of its clients, ensuring that every design embodies a distinct identity.
Other prizes 2007, Award of Excellence,IALD International Lighting Design Award,USA 2007, 2nd prize,PANTONE Design Award, USA 2007, Winner,Good Design Award ,Japan 2009, Winner, International Architecture Awards, USA 2009, Excellence Award, AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Awards,USA 2009, Winner,Good Design Award ,Japan 2011, Special prize, Asia Design Award, Hong kong/China 2012, Excellence Award, AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Awards,USA 2013, Winner, Good Design Award ,Japan 2016, Winner, Good Design Award ,Japan 2018, Finalist, World Architecture Festival Awards-Small Project of the Year, Singapore 2020, Winner, International Architecture Awards, USA 2020, Winner, Good Design Award ,Japan 2020, Platinum award, Nichiha Siding Award, Japan 2020, Winner, Wood design award,Japan 2020, Silver award, Japan Sing Design Association Award ,Japan 2021, First prize, AIA-JAPAN Award for Architecture, Japan 2021, First prize, Good Painting Color Award, Japan 2021, Silver award, Japan Sing Design Association Award ,Japan 2022, Winner, The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Awards,USA 2022, Winner, International Architecture Awards, USA 2022, Excellence Award, Good Painting Color Award, Japan 2022, Winner, iF DESIGN AWARD,Germany 2023, Winner, The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Awards,USA 2024, Gold Winner & Silver Winner French Design Awards, France 2024, Platinum Winner & Gold Winner & Silver Winner, TITAN Property Awards,USA 2024, Platinum Winner & Gold Winner & Silver Winner, MUSE Design Awards,USA 2024, Gold Winner & Silver Winner, New York Architectural Design Awards,USA 2024, Platinum & Gold Winner, International Architecture & Design Awards, Poland 2024, Gold Award & Silver Award, A' Design Award & Competition,Italy 2024, First Award & Second Award, Rethinking The Future Architecture Awards,India 2024, Winner, Green Good Design Sustainability Awards, USA 2024, Winner & Honorable Mention, DNA PARIS DESIGN AWARDS, France 2024, Red Dot Design Award,Germany 2024, AIA International Awards
