perched on an awaji island ridge, shigeru ban's zenbo seinei wellness retreat opens its doors

The renowned architect Kengo Kuma has unveiled his latest project, Kai Yufuin, a hot spring hotel situated amidst the picturesque rice terraces of the Yufuin valley on Japan's Kyushu island, specifically in the Ōita Prefecture. This establishment marks the 20th addition to the Hoshino Resorts portfolio, framed by the majestic Mount Yufu. The guiding principle behind this ryokan's design is to create a hotel where the landscape itself is sculpted and painted by nature's brush, resulting in an architectural layout that appears to ripple across the rice terraces, much like pebbles disturbing the surface of a pond. Yufuin Onsen is a celebrated hot spring region, known for its mineral-rich waters, vibrant natural scenery, and traditional rice fields. Kuma's design meticulously integrates these elements, making the natural landscape the central focus of the entire property. The hotel complex comprises a bathhouse, a main public building that houses the lobby, a shop, a dining area, and a library, alongside 45 guest rooms and private villas. These structures are thoughtfully nestled between the expansive rice fields and a serene oak forest. The spa area is a key feature, boasting a vaporous indoor pool. This pool is characterized by its minimalist aesthetic, featuring blackened wooden panels and black pebble floors, which collectively create a monochrome interior. This design choice serves to frame and highlight the panoramic views of Mount Yufu, drawing the eye towards the natural beauty outside. Accommodation options include wooden villas with distinctive overhanging hip roofs and slender eaves, a contemporary interpretation of traditional Japanese architectural styles. These villas incorporate floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto private decks, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the surrounding nature. The interiors of the villas are decorated in neutral tones with simple furnishings, complemented by uki-zukuri-finished cedar floors, emphasizing natural materials and a calm ambiance. In the main building, guest rooms, starting from 35,000 JPY per night, are appointed with bespoke elements that reflect the local culture and environment. These include bamboo headboards and sofas, referencing the prefecture's abundant giant bamboo. Additionally, the rooms feature shichitoi grass lighting elements and traditional tatami mats, further enhancing the authentic Japanese experience while providing a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing stay. The hotel is located at 398 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu, Oita, Japan. #KengoKuma #HotSpringHotel #KaiYufuin #KyushuJapan #JapaneseArchitecture #HoshinoResorts #WellnessHotel #YufuinOnsen #RiceTerraces

Evan Kinori, a designer known for his thoughtful and honest approach to clothing, has opened his first brick-and-mortar store in San Francisco. This new space, located on Valencia Street, serves as both a retail outlet and an extension of his design studio, with most of his clothes being produced in nearby factories in San Francisco or Los Angeles. The store offers a physical manifestation of Kinori's design philosophy, allowing customers to experience his earthy, high-quality, and low-concept garments firsthand. The shop's interior features lime plaster walls, white-washed floors, and a serene ambiance, showcasing not only Kinori's latest collection, including store exclusives, but also furniture by BCMT and Frama, and ceramics from Dora Good and Shed Project. These additional items highlight Kinori's appreciation for slow, craft-forward design and his network of like-minded artisans. Kinori launched his brand six years ago and has since cultivated a devoted customer base who appreciate the meticulous consideration behind his seemingly simple designs. The new store aims to cater to these loyal fans while also attracting new customers who might encounter the compelling storefront while walking through San Francisco. The designer sees the store as an expansion of his creative universe, a metaphorical and literal opening of new spaces within his world. The creation of the store came about unexpectedly when Kinori's previous workspace was sold, forcing him to find a new location. After a challenging search for suitable art studio-style spaces in San Francisco, which often suffered from inflated "tech startup" rents, he discovered the current Victorian building. This unique setup offered a large storefront connected to an equally sized workspace/warehouse, providing an ideal solution for combining his production and retail operations. Kinori emphasizes that the design of the shop is a direct extension of his personal aesthetic and his evolving interests, whether in fabric, furniture, or wall finishes. He describes the process as intuitive rather than a calculated corporate decision, with the space evolving naturally from the building's existing structure rather than being a high-concept, rigidly designed environment. He notes that the development of the space was an intense yet fulfilling process, involving various specialists who worked to bring his vision to life. The fixtures in the store combine antique and vintage pieces with contemporary designs from makers like Black Creek Mercantile and Lakes Studio, reflecting his discoveries during travels and through personal connections. Responding to queries about his choice of San Francisco as a base, Kinori expresses enjoyment in the "quasi-punk, underdog feeling" of operating in a city not typically known as a fashion capital. He values the intimate, town-like feel of San Francisco, as well as the immediate access to nature, such as redwoods and Mt. Tamalpais, which offers a retreat from societal pressures. He views his work through a lens of clothing in general rather than just fashion, drawing inspiration from the city's rich history of style, including the Beats and early hippie movements. This environment allows him to operate in a bubble, largely detached from contemporary fashion trends, focusing instead on creating simple, beautiful, and elegant tools for living that are subtle yet distinct to a discerning eye. Kinori's design approach is characterized by significant restraint, guided by intuition and the practicalities of running a small team. He intentionally offers a limited range of core styles, such as the Big Shirt and Elastic Pant, in various fabrics, preferring depth and essence over a vast number of new designs. This slow approach, though potentially perceived as boring compared to the rapid pace of other brands, is authentic to his personal style and his belief in encouraging consumers to invest in fewer, more meaningful items. The store therefore embodies this philosophy, providing a calm and considered space for experiencing his unique brand of honest, timeless design. #EvanKinori #SanFrancisco #RetailStore #ZenStyle #FashionDesign #SustainableFashion #Craftsmanship #InteriorDesign #Menswear

The Hoshinoya Tokyo, a spa hotel designed by Rie Azuma of Azuma Architect & Associates, introduces a traditional Japanese ryokan experience to the heart of Tokyo's Otemachi district. This development addresses a long-standing gap in the city's hospitality landscape, where authentic hot-spring ryokans were previously confined to regions outside the capital. Hoshino Resorts, a company with a century-long history, collaborated with Azuma Architects to create this unique urban retreat, blending ancient Japanese hospitality with contemporary comforts. The hotel occupies an 18-story tower, strategically set back from the street behind a courtyard with trees, distinguishing it from the surrounding skyscrapers. Its facade features black resin-baked aluminum latticework, illuminated by soft spotlights, creating a distinctive glowing effect. The ground level discreetly hosts a soba noodle shop, offering a subtle hint of the unique experience within. Upon entry, guests are greeted by a doorman in traditional attire, and the customary removal of shoes signifies the transition into a serene environment. Shoes are stored in chestnut cubbies with woven bamboo doors, and the flooring throughout is traditional, fragrant tatami matting, replacing conventional carpeting. Azuma's design ethos centers on respecting tradition while adapting it for modern travelers. The architecture and interior design are rich with references to old Japan. The facade's latticework is inspired by Edo-era kimono patterns, and guests arrive via a subterranean entrance veiled by a black hemp curtain, reminiscent of dividers found in traditional Japanese shops. The hotel's discreet logo echoes noble family crests, reinforcing the connection to heritage. The 84 guest rooms, six per floor, represent a harmonious blend of old and new. Shoji sliding screens, made of chestnut and paper, serve as window coverings, while bathrooms feature clear glass walls that become opaque with a switch. Low beds, designed for Western comfort standards, replace traditional futons, yet maintain an authentic aesthetic. Custom-designed seating and tables are engineered to prevent damage to the tatami flooring. Each level of the hotel includes a lounge where guests can enjoy Japanese sweets, green tea, sake, and plum wine. The pinnacle of the hotel's amenities is the penthouse spa, where mineral-rich hot spring water is pumped from a source beneath the building. The spa features a pool lined with local granite and walls paneled with cypress, with a light well providing a sensation of an outdoor bath. The project involved numerous specialists, including an award-winning lighting consultant who recreated the warmth of an old ryokan, and a leading woodworking studio responsible for the chestnut floorboards in the restaurant, which offers French cuisine with a Japanese influence. A master plasterer created the restaurant vestibule's sidewalls using a blend of plaster and compressed earth, and the Japanese granite feature wall was installed by the same company that supplied Isamu Noguchi. Rie Azuma emphasized the importance of natural materials, appreciating their randomness and ability to age beautifully. Her aim was to create a space where both Japanese and international guests could experience relaxation in a traditional Japanese manner, demonstrating how ancient traditions can thrive in contemporary life, as exemplified by the library's daily tea ceremonies and ancient court music performances. #HoshinoyaTokyo #RieAzuma #JapaneseRyokan #SpaHotel #TokyoHospitality #TraditionalJapaneseDesign #LuxuryTravel #AzumaArchitects #HotSprings

Miyabi by Sunaba, situated at a bustling intersection within a modern complex in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese tearoom designed to function as a versatile spiritual sanctuary. The project aims to celebrate the ancient Japanese tea ceremony while seamlessly transitioning between everyday commercial activities and traditional Japanese practices. The design integrates calming natural elements into an urban setting, creating a quiet space that evokes a Zen ambiance through a deliberate sequence of spatial movements, warm lighting, and traditional Japanese architectural features. The primary objective is to provide visitors with an immersive and extraordinary experience through carefully considered spatial development. Drawing inspiration from the traditional tea ceremony's concept of Shichu no Sankyo, which signifies a mountain retreat within the city, Sunaba incorporates a small tea garden, or Roji, to bring the tranquility of nature into the urban environment. A narrow Roji path, characterized by small rocks and dark wooden paneling, marks the transition from the city's hustle. This path guides visitors into the tearoom, enveloped in a contemplative atmosphere created by warm wooden interiors and stone-lined walkways. As individuals proceed through the softly lit space, corrugated glass diffuses natural light, contributing to a sense of spiritual purification. Inside Miyabi, the layout is structured around the sacred Koma space, which is the small, intimate area for the tea ceremony. This central space is surrounded by a Mizuya (preparation room) and the Roji, ensuring a quiet and secluded environment for the ritual. To further enhance the tearoom's privacy and serenity, the architects installed a 100 mm thick corrugated glass screen along the condominium's large glass wall facade. This screen effectively attenuates external sound and light, maintaining a peaceful atmosphere suitable for the tea ceremony. The design ensures that the space remains adaptable, capable of hosting various commercial activities while retaining its spiritual core and traditional aesthetic. #JapaneseArchitecture #TearoomDesign #ZenDesign #TokyoArchitecture #UrbanSanctuary #TraditionalJapanese #SpatialDesign #NatureInspired #SpiritualSpace