Design
Feelings that went into the design
Inheriting the traditional “machiya-zukuri” architectural style while retaining an air of comfort in this ‘long-matured’ space, the concept of this hotel belongs to the creativity of modern artists with fresh ideas.
Overflowing with atmosphere, this building is a renovated traditional machiya townhouse that was once used as the product shop of the “Kinshi Masamune” sake brewery, established in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto.
Renovating and utilizing a long-used machiya townhouse passes on Kyoto’s culture of machiya townhouses and sake, and helps to promote culture and sustainable tourism in Kyoto. While inheriting the traditional “machiya-zukuri” architectural style and retaining an air of comfort in this ‘long-matured’ space, the concept of this hotel belongs to the creativity of modern artists with fresh ideas.
Architectural design
Artist
Shigenori Uoya
■Comment
In recent times in Kyoto, despite the city’s reputation for conserving machiya townhouses, many hotels have torn down the townhouses before rebuilding them, and the 1 to 2-story townhouses you see now are mainly just copies. “I couldn’t help thinking that wouldn’t it just be better to retain the original machiya townhouse. In the case of the nol hotel, the existing machiya townhouse has been preserved and is now being used as the lobby. Nol has brought the machiya townhouse, which was used for around 100 years, forward to 2020, and it is now being used as a place to attract people. I am sure it will be passed on again for a different use sometime in the future.
■Work
Kyoto-style residential hotel
Seito Church
‘Container’ machiya
sowaka
Artwork
Artist
Masa
■Comment
Incorporating the look of the original architecture into this hotel was my inspiration. Please get a feel for the atmosphere and design of those times. I think that coming into contact with objects from the past will give guests a hint of how to spend their time during their stay.
■Work
ONOMICHI SHARE
Luxury hotel SOWAKA
Artistic greenery
Artist
Takeshi Kaseya
■Comment
Recognizing the characteristics and sense of size inherent within greenery and taking from that a host of individual expressions displayed from various angles, the artworks ask people to see the greenery in their truly natural state.
■Work
HERMES Gion Store
Headquarters of “Nogami” - the high-class “fresh” bread bakery
Lighting design
Artist
Keigo Tanaka
■Comment
Based on a theme of shade and shadow, which has always been favored in Japan and even more so now, refined light has been used to express a spirit of hospitality to the guests. Modernizing the traditional role of light in Japan, the lighting is punctuated with just enough light to allow one to enjoy the “afterglow of darkness.”
■Work
5th Fl. West Walk, Roppongi Hills
Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo F&B
The Ritz Carlton, Langkawi F&B
Guest room design
Artist
Yukio Hashimoto
■Comment
The aim was to create guest room design that matures and deepens with the changing times. While it’s a functional and refined hotel, my idea was to create a nostalgic memory and a feel for the old among the new by capturing Japanese-style aesthetic senses and textures.
■Work
BEAMS HOUSE (Marunouchi)
The Peninsula (Hibiya)
InterContinental (Osaka)
Branding
Artist
Shun Kawakami
■Comment
A time for unstrained spontaneity that fits between the routine and non-routine. These were the words I had in mind when selecting everything from the logo to the typeface and the graphic and sign design. “nol” is a brand design that expresses a new atmosphere and ambience.
■Work
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