LOQUAT Nishiizu

Located in the Toi district of Nishi-Izu, the former Suzuki residence, a large estate consisting of a main house and three storehouses, has been a beloved central presence in the community since the Edo period. With the "value of experiencing ancient beauty" in mind, the buildings and exterior have been renovated to create an auberge with two guest rooms.
The main house's cramped layout was redesigned to create a sense of spaciousness in all directions, ensuring modern comfort. The three storehouses were designed to preserve their original atmosphere by utilizing their unique spatial characteristics and adding minimal concept design elements. Two were renovated into accommodation buildings with luxurious outdoor open-air baths, while one was converted into a lounge and spa.
By combining it with other nearby accommodations, we have created an auberge that blends seamlessly into the local community and is beloved by its residents.

[Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests]
While Doi has long been popular as a hot spring inn town, there are few variations of restaurants, and there are no cafes that serve as sightseeing bases or tourist content that makes use of the food resources of Nishiizu. A long-standing problem has been the lack of
Rather than prioritizing business profitability, the request was that the facility should be of benefit to the region, and that it would continue to be accepted and loved by tourists and local residents.

[Solution]
At our company, we believe it's necessary to respect the passage of time that the buildings have accumulated on this land, to discover the unique character of each building, and to design and concept design in a way that transforms those characteristics into appealing features.
By revising the floor plans while considering the structural burden on the existing non-conforming buildings, the main house features a deep roof structure, the first storehouse, which serves as a lounge, has roughly plastered walls, the second storehouse, which serves as accommodation, offers a dynamic, open-plan space, and the third storehouse boasts a two-story vertical expanse and earthen walls hidden behind the wooden walls. Respecting the unique character of each building has become the very essence of the charm of each facility.

[Customer Feedback]
Despite the tight deadline, the former Suzuki residence, a landmark in Toi's history, was restored with extremely high-quality concept design and construction techniques. As a result, not only tourists visiting "LOQUAT Nishi-Izu" but also local residents come to the residence almost every day, making it a place of relaxation that provides a little bit of richness to their daily lives.
Every day, not only the accommodation buildings but also the restaurants, bakeries, and gelaterias are bustling with activity, often selling out or becoming fully booked.

<Our project members>
[Sales & Project Management] Shinya Hiratsuka, Nobuyuki Yagi
[Planning] Saki Ninomiya
[design, layout] Norio Koito, Hirofumi Inoue, Tadahiro Nakajima, Ryotaro Tezuka
[Production and construction] Jun Endo, Takayuki Inoue, Nohara Kikuchi