First “ETFE Film Membrane” to receive the Architectural Institute of Japan Award (Work)

Taiyo Kogyo Corporation

Taiyo Kogyo Corporation (Tokyo headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Osaka headquarters: Yodogawa-ku, Osaka; President: Hidefumi Araki), a “membrane manufacturer” that handles large membrane surface structures (tent structures) and other products, has been selected for the 2019 Architectural Institute of Japan Award (Work) for its “Shin Toyosu Brillia Running Stadium,” which it participated in the planning as the architect. The project is the first facility to use ETFE film membranes, and the three designers involved in the planning of the project received the prestigious “Architectural Institute of Japan Award”.

The Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) Award is an award system established in 1949 by the AIJ for “original works of extremely high standard from social, cultural, and environmental perspectives. In addition to the works category, there are also categories for papers, techniques, and achievements. Including the related “Architectural Institute of Japan Grand Prize,” this is one of the most prestigious awards in the architectural industry in Japan.

This year, 51 entries were submitted for the “Architectural Institute of Japan Award (Works),” and after a strict screening process, two works including “Shin Toyosu Brillia Running Stadium” were selected and the Institute’s Award was given to the five designers involved in each work.

The Shin-Toyosu Brillia Running Stadium was completed in 2016 as a training facility for athletes with disabilities who aim to become Paralympians. It creates a bright and open indoor environment. The project was highly evaluated for its beautifully finished joint details, which were designed in consideration of demolition (relocation), the fact that the ETFE film membrane was notified for general use, and the novelty and completeness of the building, which was crystallized through a high level of integration among architectural designers, structural designers, manufacturers, constructors and others. 1

The presentation ceremony was grandly held on May 30 at the Hall of Architecture Hall in Minato-ku, Tokyo, and in addition to Mr. Koji Takematsu (Director of E.P.A. Environmental Conversion Equipment Architectural Laboratory), who was active in architectural design and planning, and Mr. Hideyuki Hagioda (Representative Director of KAP Corporation), who was in charge of structural design, the company also presented the award to Mr. Jun Kitamura (Design Section Manager of Design Division), who was engaged in designing the ETFE film membranes. Jun Kitamura, Manager of the Design Section of the Design Division, who was engaged in the design of the ETFE film membrane, received the award, which is the first time for a facility using ETFE film membrane to receive such an award.

In addition to this award, the Shin Toyosu Brillia Running Stadium has also received the BCS Award (2018, organized by the Japan Federation of Construction Contractors), the Japan Structural Design Award (2017, organized by the Japan Structuralists Club), the Good Design Award (2017, organized by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion) and overseas, the DFA Design for Asia Awards 2018GRAND AWARD 2018, also sponsored by the Hong Kong Design Center, and nominated for the FRAME Awards 2019 Social Awards, the building has been extremely well received in the architecture and design industry both in Japan and abroad. This is expected to provide a tailwind for the spread of ETFE Film Membrane in Japan, where it has been used extensively in Olympic facilities and soccer World Cup facilities around the world. TAIYO KOGYO, in cooperation with industry associations, aims to further promote the use of ETFE Film Membrane and to contribute to the “realization of a fulfilling life for people” through bright and open spaces.

*1: Official document published by the Architectural Institute of Japan https://www.aij.or.jp/images/prize/2019/pdf/2_2award_001.pdf

The following is an overview of the Architectural Institute of Japan Award and the Shin Toyosu Brillia Running Stadium

-Note-

The Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) Award was established in 1949 by the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) as an award system for “original works of extremely high social, cultural, and environmental standards. The JIAA Award consists of categories for works, papers, techniques, and achievements, and together with the related JIAA Grand Prize, is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the architectural industry in Japan.

The facility is a training facility for top athletes with disabilities who aspire to become Paralympians, as well as a place for activities and research on physical expression that transcends disabilities and makes full use of the characteristics of people with and without disabilities. The tunnel-shaped building consists of a roof made of transparent, lightweight, and highly durable ETFE film and a structure made of curved laminated wood in a diamond shape, creating a bright and open indoor space with a sense of transparency. The joint details, which were thought out with demolition as a precondition, are beautiful and highly finished. The building was highly evaluated for its novelty and completeness, which was crystallized through a high level of integration of architectural designers, structural designers, membrane fabricators, and constructors.

Facility Introduction Video https://youtu.be/gVMNboo8GtI

Taiyo Kogyo Corporation http://www.taiyokogyo.co.jp
Corporate Communications (Public Relations) Contact: Ueda, Takatani, Niwa Tel: +81-6-6306-3033