Architecture for a Circular Future
Project: Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center “WHY”
Location: Kamikatsu, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan
Architect: Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP Architectural Design Office
Opened: May 2020
Award: 2026 New European Bauhaus international prize for Japan
Official links: Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center WHY · Official architecture and project description
The first image from left. Learning Center & Public Hall
A welcoming community space for all visitors. Here you can browse books on sustainability and environmental issues selected by book director Yoshitaka Haba, or relax with your children in the kids’ area. The hall is also available for private use, such as company training sessions.
Official WHY website and image reference
The second image from left: KURU KURU SHOP
A reuse shop where residents bring items they no longer need to be passed on to someone else. Anyone can freely take home what they like. To remind everyone of the value of circulation, each item’s weight is recorded when taken.
Official centre website and image reference
A Building That Asks a Question
In the mountain town of Kamikatsu, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, the Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center “WHY” turns a public facility into a statement about how society produces and manages waste. Opened in May 2020, the centre was designed by Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP Architectural Design Office as a place for waste collection, reuse, learning and community exchange.
Seen from above, the complex resembles a question mark. Its form invites visitors to reconsider everyday consumption and ask a fundamental question: why create waste when materials can be used again? The project has received international recognition, including the international prize for Japan in the 2026 New European Bauhaus awards.
Circularity Shaped Through Architecture
The centre’s architecture reflects the principles of reuse and resource efficiency. Donated fittings and reclaimed materials, including reused windows, contribute to the building’s distinctive character. Locally sourced timber further connects the project to the region’s natural and material resources.
Its layout is designed around the different activities that support a circular community. The waste-sorting station, reuse shop, learning centre, community hall, collaborative laboratory and hotel operate as parts of a broader system.
The horseshoe-shaped arrangement supports the movement of materials through sorting, storage, recycling and reuse. At the same time, the design creates spaces where residents and visitors can meet and exchange ideas.
From Waste Sorting to Everyday Learning
Kamikatsu declared its zero-waste goal in 2003, becoming Japan’s first municipality to make such a declaration. Residents play a direct role in the system by bringing their household waste to the centre and separating it into numerous categories.
The facility also includes the Kuru Kuru Shop, where unwanted items can be passed on for reuse, and spaces for learning and collaboration. Hotel WHY extends the experience by inviting guests to engage with the town’s zero-waste practices.
Rather than hiding waste management behind the scenes, the centre makes it visible and understandable. Architecture becomes an educational tool that connects environmental responsibility with daily routines.
A Community Hub for a Sustainable Future
The centre is more than a waste facility. It provides a place for residents, visitors, researchers and organisations to exchange knowledge and explore new approaches to circular living. By integrating practical infrastructure with public and educational spaces, WHY shows how sustainable design can support both environmental goals and community life.
Its recognition through the 2026 New European Bauhaus international prize for Japan highlights the relevance of this approach beyond the town itself. Kamikatsu offers a compelling example of how architecture can help communities rethink waste, consumption and the future of resources.