"Futaba Station West Residential Area" Received the Encouragement Award in the Urban Space Category of the FY2026 Urban Landscape Award
The Futaba Station West Residential Area, for which Pacific Consultants Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President Executive Officer: Satoko Okano) was responsible for part of the design work, received the Encouragement Award in the Urban Space Category of the FY2026 Urban Landscape Award.
The Urban Landscape Award is an award programme established by the Urban Landscape Day Executive Committee (sponsored by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) to recognize districts and areas that have created outstanding urban landscapes, as well as activities related to local landscapes. The award is part of the committee’s public awareness and outreach efforts aimed at promoting better regional landscape development and encouraging initiatives that contribute to regional revitalisation.
photo by Kenya Chiba
■ About the "Futaba Station West Residential Area"
The Futaba Station West Residential Area is a residential area of approximately 6.1 hectares located at the west exit of Futaba Station on the JR Joban Line in Futaba Town, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture. Following the partial lifting of evacuation orders in August 2022 in the difficult-to-return zone due to the nuclear power plant accident, 30 units of disaster public housing and 56 reconstruction rental housing units were constructed as a "new place to live" under Futaba Town's reconstruction plan. Based on the concept of "a livelihood community embraced by the Shineha Yato landscape and nurtured together by its residents," the area was planned as a residential community where returning residents and newcomers can support one another and foster natural interaction.
■ Contents of the judging comments
The project was praised for its thoughtful design, which encourages encounters and interactions between people, from the station square and walking paths to the patios under the eaves, the alleys, and even the earthen floors of the individual houses. It was also commended for reflecting the original Yato landscape of the valley and the streetscape of the settlement in the building layout and architecture.
For further details, please refer to the press release from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/toshi10_hh_000613.html
Furthermore, the Futaba Station West Residential Area also received Good Design Award in 2025 for the "Station West Housing: Futaba Station West Area Disaster Public Housing Development Project".
Press release: "Station West Housing: Futaba Station West Area Disaster Public Housing Development Project" won the Good Design Award 2025
https://en.pacific.co.jp/news/2025/20251021-002670.html
Pacific Consultants will utilize the expertise it has cultivated through the development of this area, including spatial design that takes advantage of the region's unique topography and landscape, as well as the creation of living environments that encourage interaction among residents, in future reconstruction and urban development projects and regional revitalization initiatives.