Interview with Nobuaki Miyashita from Japan

Qingdi Shi | MUSE Design Awards
Interview with Qingdi Shi from China
May 21, 2024
LIT Music Awards 2024 Jurors
Revealing the Curators of Excellence: LIT Music Awards 2024 Jury
May 21, 2024

Nobuaki Miyashita

Nobuaki Miyashita, CEO of MR Studio Co., Ltd., is an experienced architect specializing in redefining spaces. Nobuaki Miyashita's firm provides architectural services across various types of buildings, with a focus on creating innovative, user-focused, and context-sensitive designs that promote environmental integration. His inspiration to pursue a career in architecture comes from the ability to create transformative spaces that resonate with their users and surroundings.

1Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.

I am Nobuaki Miyashita, the CEO of MR STUDIO Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo, Japan. With nearly 30 years of architectural design experience, my career has been dedicated to redefining how spaces are conceived and experienced.

My firm provides a comprehensive range of architectural services across various building types – from single-family homes to large commercial facilities, corporate offices, cultural facilities, and large-scale urban planning projects. We strive to deliver innovative, context-sensitive designs that enhance user experience and environmental integration.

2What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?

I was drawn to architecture by the possibility of creating transformative spaces that resonate deeply with their users and surroundings. My uncle, a respected architect, exposed me to design and architecture at a young age, showing me how spaces can powerfully influence emotions and activities. This early inspiration led me to pursue a career where I can bring significant, positive changes to the environment through thoughtful design.

3Tell us more about your agency/company, job profile, and what you do.

At MR STUDIO, I lead a dynamic team of architects and designers committed to discovering and responding to the implicit needs and identities of our projects.

Our firm emphasises the integration of diverse design elements – signage, lighting, landscape, and product design – to create distinctive, site-specific architecture that provides added value and enhances the character of each location. My role as CEO involves guiding our strategic direction, fostering creativity, and ensuring that our designs are both innovative and practical.

4What does “design” mean to you?

To me, design is a dynamic process of creating environments that enhance human interaction and well-being. It is about finding the balance between aesthetic appeal, functionality, and contextual relevance. Design should provoke reflection and evoke a sense of place, blending art, science, and technology to create spaces that are not just built environments but lived experiences.

5What’s your favorite kind of design and why?

I am particularly fond of design that respects and reflects the local context, making each project relevant and impactful in its specific setting. This approach challenges us to delve deeply into the cultural, environmental, and historical narratives of the site, enabling us to craft solutions that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also culturally and environmentally consistent.

6To you, what makes a “good” design?

A good design serves its users efficiently while also enhancing the environment it occupies. It should be sustainable, aesthetically elegant, and culturally meaningful, providing solutions that are not only functional but also enriching. Good design stands the test of time, adapting to the evolving needs of its users and continuing to provide value and relevance.

7How did you come up with the idea for your award-winning design?

Our design process is deeply collaborative, starting with comprehensive site analysis and client consultation to fully understand the scope and potential of each project. We engage in iterative design phases, incorporating feedback from all stakeholders to refine our solutions.

For example, when designing a resort hotel in Vietnam, we drew design inspiration from futuristic spaceships and luxury cruise ships, symbols of innovation and luxury respectively. This process ensures that our designs are not only innovative but also aligned with the specific needs and aspirations of the communities they serve.

8What was your main source of inspiration for this design?

Our design process is deeply collaborative, starting with comprehensive site analysis and client consultation to fully understand the scope and potential of each project. We engage in iterative design phases, incorporating feedback from all stakeholders to refine our solutions. This process ensures that our designs are not only innovative but also aligned with the specific needs and aspirations of the communities they serve.

9Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?

Japanese cultural values of minimalism, attention to detail, and harmony with nature profoundly influence our approach. These principles guide our design decisions, from the macro scale of urban planning to the micro details of interior spaces. This cultural lens helps us create spaces that are not only functional but also spiritually and aesthetically aligned with Japanese traditions.

10Congratulations! As the winner of the French Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?

Winning the French Design Awards is immensely gratifying and a significant recognition of our dedication to excellence in architecture. It highlights our team's ability to create distinctive, context-aware designs that resonate on an international stage, and it reaffirms our commitment to pushing the boundaries of architectural practise.

11Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the French Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?

We were honoured with the French Design Awards for several projects, each recognised for its exemplary integration of cultural sensitivity and architectural innovation. These awards highlight our firm's ability to address complex design challenges with solutions that are both creative and appropriately aligned with their contexts.

Our winning projects span a variety of settings, from major urban environments like Tokyo to factory projects in regional cities across Japan and resort hotels in Vietnam. This diversity demonstrates our versatility in managing different scales and contexts and highlights our technical expertise as well as our dedication to cultural heritage and environmental sustainability.

12What were the main challenges you faced during the design process, and how did you overcome them?

One of the main challenges in these projects was to incorporate modern architectural elements into historical contexts without compromising their inherent cultural values. We achieved this through careful material selection, innovative design methods, and ongoing dialogue with local stakeholders, ensuring that our interventions were both respectful and appropriate.

In addition, our design approach aims to express the client's identity vividly through iconic designs that create a memorable visual impact and align with the unique characteristics of each site. This strategy not only respects the existing cultural landscape but also enhances it by introducing contemporary interpretations that remain sensitive to the past.

13How do you think winning this award will impact your future as a designer?

The award has significantly strengthened our company's international reputation, attracting the attention of potential clients worldwide interested in innovative and culturally tailored design solutions. It has also inspired our team, boosting morale and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation within our practise.

14What are your top three (3) favorite things about the design industry?
  1. Continuous innovation and technological advances are driving us to rethink traditional approaches to design.
  2. The collaborative nature of the industry allows for a rich exchange of ideas and expertise across disciplines.
  3. The opportunity to positively impact people's lives through thoughtful, well-designed spaces.
15What sets your design apart from others in the same category?

Japan offers a unique blend of historical richness and cutting-edge technology in design. This combination creates innovative architectural solutions that respect traditional aesthetics while embracing modernity, setting Japanese design apart in the global arena.

16Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?

I expect the industry to increasingly focus on sustainable practises, resilience, and adaptability. The next decade will likely see a surge in designs that prioritise environmental and social sustainability, with a strong focus on renewable materials and energy efficiency.

17What advice do you have for aspiring designers who want to create award-winning designs?

Nurture a deep understanding of both the technical aspects and the broader cultural and social implications of design. Stay open to learning and innovation, and always aim to contribute positively to the communities your designs will serve.

18What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?

I recommend a combination of academic study, hands-on practise, and continuous professional development. Engaging with leading design publications, attending international design conferences, and participating in collaborative workshops are excellent ways to enhance your skills and stay ahead of the field.

19Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
Early in my career, I often explored Tokyo's hidden alleys and unnoticed architectural elements, finding inspiration in the interplay of shadows and textures. These subtle, often overlooked details have profoundly influenced my design philosophy, emphasising the importance of subtlety and understatedness in creating deep spatial experiences.
20Who has inspired you in your life and why?
My uncle, an architect whose mastery of the design concept and its execution profoundly shaped my understanding of architecture. His guidance taught me the importance of placing each design in its specific context, a principle that has been central to my professional philosophy.
21What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Persistence in refining your craft, passion for the art of design, and patience in the face of challenges are essential. Embrace every project as an opportunity to learn and grow, and strive to leave a positive impression through your work.
22Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
I deeply appreciate the platform provided by the French Design Awards, which celebrates global design excellence and fosters constructive dialogue on the future of architecture. It is a privilege to be part of this vibrant community that constantly seeks to redefine the boundaries of design.

Winning Entries

Aida Sekkei Precut Division Ibaraki Factory | 2024

Aida Sekkei Precut Division Ibaraki Factory | French Design Awards

This is a project of a new timber processing plant for precut lumber designed by Aida sekkei Co.,Ltd., one of the leading house builders who specializes in traditional Japanese timber construction. The plant plays an …
(Read more at French Design Awards)

Hotel Marina Gold |
2024

Hotel Marina Gold | French Design Awards

The site faces Mui Ne Beach which is located in the southeast of Vietnam. Mui Ne Beach is situated at around 170 kilometers far from Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. Its magnificent coastline attracts not only …
(Read more at French Design Awards)


Nobuaki Miyashita

MR STUDIO Co., Ltd.

Nobuaki Miyashita, CEO of MR Studio Co., Ltd., is an experienced architect specializing in redefining spaces. Nobuaki Miyashita's firm provides architectural services across various types of buildings, with a focus on creating innovative, user-focused, and context-sensitive designs that promote environmental integration. His inspiration to pursue a career in architecture comes from the ability to create transformative spaces that resonate with their users and surroundings.


Read more about this interview with Ying Pan from the United States, the Silver Winner of the 2024 French Design Awards.

Muse.World