“Structural aesthetics in award-winning japanese architecture: a study of dual laureates in architecture and engineering”

Abstract

This study delves into the unique melding of structural design and architectural aesthetics in contemporary Japanese architecture, particularly focusing on projects that have garnered both architectural and structural awards. The approach includes an analysis of 28 dual-award-winning designs to understand the interplay of structural functionality and aesthetic innovation. It also encompasses a literature review on the historical development of Japan’s architectural education, highlighting the integration of structural engineering subjects as one of the core components of the curriculum. This discussion is not intended to establish a direct causal relationship between the education of individual designers and the quality of the selected buildings. Instead, it provides a contextual framework for understanding the relatively close relationship between architectural and structural thinking in Japan. Findings indicate that structural elements contribute to architectural design in recurring ways, not only through visible material and formal expression but also through less visible roles that enable spatial organization, environmental performance, and functional flexibility. In some cases, structural systems are directly expressed through timber roofs, steel frames, large cantilevers, or concrete slabs. In other cases, structural elements remain visually discreet but support particular architectural intentions. The study therefore distinguishes between visible structural expression and hidden structural contribution. These findings suggest that, in the selected Japanese projects, structural design often operates as both a technical and architectural device. The findings are primarily situated within the Japanese context, but may offer points of reference for broader discussions on collaboration between architects and structural engineers.