Works#Architecture

This is a renovation project of the hotel "TheMana Village" located at the tip of Ashizuri Cape in Kochi Prefecture. Starting in 2020, the former Ashizuri Pacific Hotel will be reborn as a new “TheMana Village”. In the 2022 project, 5 new types of guest rooms and the Italian restaurant "Assurrissimo" in the facility have been expanded. Some of the new guest rooms are twin-type rooms with a large space of 96 square meters, equipped with a private sauna, water bath, open-air bath, and a special room with a fireplace in the room. Aiming to be one of the best resort hotels in Asia, this renovation project aims to provide a special accommodation experience. , is an ongoing project leading to the next renovation.

This project, undertaken by ARTH Group Co., Ltd. (Tosashimizu Resort LLC), which handles accommodation businesses and regional revitalization nationwide, aims to revitalize the entire city of Tosashimizu by transforming the long-established Ashizuri Pacific Hotel Hanatsubaki, a renowned inn at Cape Ashizuri in Kochi Prefecture, into "The Mana Village," one of Asia's leading resort facilities. The facility is located in the naturally rich area of Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park. Although it boasts a spectacular view, the hotel's interiors remained old, as if time had stopped in the Showa era. Initially, the plan was to install a small cafe area, but through repeated discussions, ARTH's vision expanded to include not only the hotel but also the entire Kochi prefecture and Tosashimizu city. It was reborn as a complex facility including an Italian restaurant, offering a luxurious space where guests can experience the nature of Ashizuri. Our company participated from the planning and concept design stage to enhance the facility's appeal, and was in charge of producing the facade, lobby common areas, guest rooms, and restaurant spaces, which are the face of the hotel. (design supervision for guest rooms and Italian restaurant) Starting with "LOQUAT Nishi-Izu" (renovation of an old house into an auberge) which we handled in 2021, we have been working as ARTH's creative partner, producing spaces that contribute to the creation and revitalization of attractive towns.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Nagoya Anpanman Children's Museum & Park, which opened in 2010, we will be in charge of the expansion of the "Takashi Yanase Theater" and the renovation of the "Big Tree and Forest of Play" as a power-up measure that will be responsible for the next 10 years. Thank you. Among the Anpanman Children's Museums in Japan, this facility is particularly focused on character shows and greetings, and will be a project of a dedicated theater where full-scale shows can be held and a plaza where parents and children can participate in play and events. Based on the concept of "Takashi Yanase Theater" and "Anpanman and his friends came when we were playing in the children's room," we created a warm wooden space and used building blocks, which are familiar toys for young children, as a motif. The building blocks, both inside and outside of the building, are integrated with the building framework so that the overall effect is large. In addition, by constructing the interior of the building with the vehicles, mechanics, and bread factory that appear in the anime, we have created a production that creates conversations between parents and children even during intermissions. Based on the concept of “a forest of big trees and play” and “the open space where Anpanman and his friends used to play until a little while ago”, a symbolic tree is arranged in the center, and it is a free space where parents and children can play around it and staff can hold events. increase. The ceiling surface is illuminated with blue skies, rainbows, and sunsets so that you can enjoy a day in the forest. Fixed playground equipment such as tunnels, slides, and peepholes are arranged to surround them, creating a space where parents and children can discover play in the forest.

This is Japan's first permanent museum dedicated to infectious diseases. With the theme of "Connecting the Past and Present of Infectious Diseases to the Future," it is a facility that conveys the knowledge and experience that humanity has built up from the past to the present, and the steps we are taking towards the future. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light memories of humanity's past struggles against infectious diseases, and it is anticipated that infectious diseases will continue to be a threat to us. In this context, the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum of Infectious Diseases aims to provide a place where people can acquire "correct knowledge and correct actions" regarding infectious diseases. By renovating an existing facility, an annex of the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum, and leveraging the achievements of the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Foundation and the high level of expertise of the supervisors, the museum, which differentiates itself from the memorial museum, consists of two displays rooms. Our company consistently handled everything from architectural renovation to displays design and construction, signage, content, and leaflet concept design.

"A funeral hall that is close to the community" This is a funeral hall in Mitaka City, Tokyo, operated by Memolead Co., Ltd., which provides life support services including weddings and funerals. Our company was in charge of the entire process, from design, layout of the building, interiors, FF&E, and signage to construction. The facility is used to conduct a complete funeral service, consisting of two halls, a purification hall that is used in conjunction with the funeral hall, a mortuary, a bathing room, a waiting room, and a departure and parking space. In response to the surrounding lush green and pleasant residential environment, the concept was "a funeral hall that resonates with the town," "a residence-like appearance with textured finishes," and "an inviting space that continues from the outside to the inside." The building is low-rise with green spaces, and the pilotis and openings allow the community, nature, and light to enter, creating a spatial configuration that blends in with the surrounding environment. In addition, the space is connected from the pilotis to the first-floor entrance and from the stairs to the second-floor foyer, and by drawing light from the second floor to the first floor, the external space is configured to appear as if it is continuous with the interior. interiors and FF&E (Funeral, Funeral, and Etiquette) were concept design with the concept of "an organic space that envelops precious time with the deceased," creating a calm and gentle impression that softly embraces the time that has been woven and accumulated. At the same time, while taking into account the regulations of Mitaka City and explaining to neighbors, we aimed to create a funeral hall that is close to the community in both hardware and software aspects. [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] As the funeral hall is located in a residential area, consideration for the neighbors was consistently required in both hardware and software aspects. In addition, recently, it has become less common to hold wakes and funeral services over two days, with one-day funerals and family funerals being the mainstream, and the number of attendees has also been limited due to the impact of COVID-19, so there was a request for a space concept design that can accommodate short periods and small numbers of people. [Solution] In consideration of the neighbors, the design reduces the sense of oppression by making it low-rise, set back from the road*, and incorporating green space, and by using textured finishes to give it the appearance of a residence, the image of a funeral hall is minimized, and concept design blends in with the surrounding residential environment. The piloti on the first floor is a softly partitioned space, using wire-based greenery and louvers to block the view, rather than concealing it with walls, thus creating a space that embraces the surrounding environment. The facility's activities are felt, and it is a space that can be easily entered during events, so it was planned to be a facility that is recognized and understood by nearby residents. At the same time, while responding to Mitaka City regulations and explaining to neighbors, we aimed to create a "funeral hall that is close to the community" in both hardware and software. As a space concept design that accommodates short periods and small numbers of people, we used organic finishes for interiors and FF&E to create a calm and gentle space, so as not to make it a functional space lacking in warmth. *Setback refers to ensuring a certain distance from the property boundary when constructing a building. <Our Project Members> [Sales/Project Management] Hiroshige Sakimoto [design, layout] NAU: Yoichi Kawakami, Norio Koito, Wataru Sugimoto, Akane Watanabe / Kei Matsuzawa [Signage] Tomomi Ito [Production/ construction] Keita Ide, Ryota Sakurai

Launched in 2019, "Marunouchi Street Park" is a social experiment project that examines the future direction and utilization of Marunouchi Nakadori Street. For the winter season, with the spatial concept of "Let's enjoy the winter street," scenes were created in three blocks spanning approximately 300 meters, where visitors could enjoy illuminations and feel warmth with all five senses. Block 1, themed "Wonder Dining!", featured a glass house where visitors could dine while enjoying the illuminations, as well as playful areas such as tree hammocks and a giant chess set. Block 2, themed "Wonder Lounge!", centered around a two-story hut that served as both an information center and a shop, and included a postbox with a simulated flame for mailing purchased Christmas cards, a billiard table that could be enjoyed under the illuminations, and a scene where visitors could relax warmly in a fire pit while enjoying a street piano. Block 3, themed "Wonder Terrace!", features a "Corridor of Light" covered in mirrors and "Artists in Fire Terrace," where artists create their works around a fake fireplace. (Event period: December 2nd to December 25th, 2021) Our company's "Illumination Tour for the Visually Impaired 2021 Winter" This tour is themed "dialogue" and is a walking tour designed to provide a truly comfortable space experience for "everyone." Volunteer staff escort visually impaired participants through three blocks (approximately 300m in total length) of Nakadori Street, which is beautifully illuminated in winter, aiming to provide a program that allows them to enjoy themselves through conversations that warm both their hearts and bodies. During the "Marunouchi Street Park 2021 Summer" event (August-September), we observed use by visually impaired individuals. This led us to conduct interviews with people who were born blind. The results included comments such as, "The places I want to go are places I've been to before and enjoyed," "The first step is always nerve-wracking when going to a new place," "I didn't know Marunouchi had a park," and "Because I can't see, I enjoy things by using my imagination." Therefore, we decided to implement this tour with the hope that by providing clear information to visually impaired individuals and guiding them with reassuring support, we could convey the charm of Marunouchi in a kind and thorough manner, making them want to visit again and grow to love Marunouchi Nakadori even more. We also hoped that this could serve as an opportunity for "everyone" to "feel the seasons, connect with others, and spend time there." <Our Project Members> [Project Director] Echiyo Suzuki [Sales] Shigeyuki Ishiyama, Hitomi Yamamoto [Planning] CIC: Yusuke Saito [operation, management] CIC: Kaoru Ando [concept design] Tomoyuki Sakuma, Kazuki Ozawa, Miwa Matsubara [Architectural Advisor] NAU: Kiwamu Okamoto [Production] Yukio Marumori, Fumiya Sasaki, Yuta Yamaguchi, Ayaka Kawashima ~Related Links~ [Announcement] ・Marunouchi Street Park Illumination Tour hosted by NOMURA Co.,Ltd.! [Related Achievements] ・Marunouchi Street Park 2021 Summer

This project is one of the initiatives aimed at helping residents of areas to be submerged by the construction of the Yamba Dam to rebuild their lives and find meaning in life. Our company was in charge of the basic planning, schematic design, working drawings, supervision, and consulting services supporting local operating companies for the "Regional Development Facilities" in the "Kawarayu District" and "Yokokabe District" of the area for approximately six years. The Kawarayu District is a tourist area with Kawarayu Onsen, which has a history of over 800 years, and is adjacent to JR Kawarayu Onsen Station. From the perspective of location characteristics, scenery, and project scale, we proposed a "station-front x campground & BBQ (barbecue) x hot spring facility" project. While listening to the opinions of the residents of the district, Naganohara Town, and Gunma Prefecture, we comprehensively planned and produced everything from the establishment and support of the local operating body to attracting a cooperating company to operate the campground, consulting on the business plan design, layout. The facility is divided by the JR Agatsuma Line, with the upper level being "Kawarayu Onsen Asobi no Kichi NOA," which has a cafe and hot springs, and the lower level being "Kawarayu Onsen Station Campground," which has a plaza where you can enjoy BBQ and bonfires, a wood-fired bath and tent sauna, and canoeing and kayaking on the dam lake. [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] [Business Aspects] It was necessary to start by understanding what rebuilding lives and creating a sense of purpose means to the local residents. Through repeated discussions with everyone, issues were identified that aimed at regional revitalization, such as coexistence with the hot spring town, promoting employment for local people, especially young people, and encouraging the return of people who have left the area. In addition, there was a request for differentiation from facilities planned in other areas or similar facilities, and for the facility to have the ability to attract customers and have its own uniqueness. [concept design Aspects] There was a request to attract passersby with concept design unique to the area, taking into consideration the bridge used by tourists visiting the dam and visibility from the opposite bank where there is a lot of traffic, and to create a facility that is easy to operate by harmonizing a multi-purpose complex (hot springs, restaurants, rest areas, observation deck, tenants, conference rooms, etc.). [Solution] [Business Aspect] The Yamba Dam project took 70 years from planning to completion, and given the background of the many residents who have moved away due to the mixed opinions on the dam's construction, what we emphasized from the perspective of launching the project was proposing a multi-perspective and comprehensive business plan. We listened to the diverse business ideas desired by the local residents, made suggestions for their feasibility, adjusted to avoid competition with companies in the surrounding area, and differentiated each facility, aiming for a project that emphasizes the unique characteristics of each region and district. [concept design Aspect] We adopted the "Agatsuma River," which is the origin of the place name of the former Kawarayu area, as our concept. As we progressed with concept design, we received feedback from local residents that it resembled "a boat floating with the region on board," and we created a distinctive building that symbolizes the two concepts. In the interior space, we planned gently curving circulation routes and slopes that integrate various functions, in line with the long, narrow shape running east to west, creating a user-friendly space with good circulation. <Our Project Members> [Sales & Project Management] Satoshi Arai, Hitomi Yamamoto [Planning & Consulting] Kenichi Sakazume, Yuki Shimokuni [design, layout] NAU: Sakae Kirioka, Nana Kosano

This project is one of the initiatives aimed at helping residents of areas to be submerged by the construction of the Yamba Dam to rebuild their lives and find meaning in life. Our company was responsible for the basic planning, schematic design, working drawings, interior administration, and consulting services supporting local operating companies for the "Regional Development Facilities" in the "Kawarayu District" and "Yokokabe District" of the area for approximately six years. For the Yokokabe Regional Development Facility, we handled not only the facility plan, but also the planning and production, including supporting the establishment of the operating body to be set up in the district, attracting participating companies, consulting for restaurants operated by residents, menu development, and operational supervision of opening equipment. The facility concept design was based on the concept of "inheriting and developing the town's memory," and recreated the former Naganohara Town Hall*, which had served its purpose for over 90 years since its construction and was scheduled for demolition, as a symbol of the district. The design aimed to create opportunities for the town's history to be seen by children who will lead the district in the future and by visiting tourists, so that the new businesses that will be operated here will lead to the regeneration, reconstruction, and development of the district. *The old government building, constructed in 1929 (Showa 4), was a two-story wooden building with a hipped roof and clapboard exterior walls, and a hipped roof above the porch, making it a hybrid of Japanese and Western architectural styles. It was also said to be "the only wooden government building in Gunma Prefecture." [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] [Business Aspects] With the construction of the Yamba Dam, it was necessary to establish a new business, unprecedented in this region, as a facility to help residents of the area to be submerged rebuild their lives and find meaning in life. It was also requested that the facility be differentiated from facilities planned in other areas or similar facilities, and that it have the ability to attract visitors and possess uniqueness. [concept design Aspects] It was requested that the old government building, which is filled with people's memories, be utilized in some way, that the plan be designed to be visible from the busy national highway from the perspective of attracting visitors, and that the plan be designed to take advantage of the view that allows for a distant view of the Yamba Dam and a panoramic view of the lake. [Solution] [Business Aspect] In order to realize the requests, we prioritized three things: firstly, making suggestions to make feasible business ideas from local residents; secondly, differentiating the community development facilities in the "Yokokabe area" and the "Kawarayu area"; and thirdly, strongly supporting the establishment of a local operating company. In this project, we aimed to open a restaurant, something that all residents of the area had no experience with, and promoted it in a way that was in line with the characteristics of the region and the characteristics of the business. In particular, we held numerous dialogues about "finding what makes Yokokabe area unique" and "utilizing local recipes," and worked together to develop the menu, proceeding with a plan that was closely tied to the community. Professional chefs were invited to the trial and tasting sessions to support raising awareness among residents, revitalizing the region through improved cooking skills, and strengthening self-reliance. [concept design Aspect] When functionally transforming the building from a town hall to a lakeside station, we surveyed the existing building and chose to recreate it in a modern way while taking care to evoke a sense of nostalgia for the former town hall. The retro and distinctive design of the old government building has been recreated to create a visual appeal. In addition, by creating open openings facing the Yamba Dam, it has been made a location with one of the best views among the facilities around the dam lake. Furthermore, in order to maintain the atmosphere of the old government building while adhering to current building regulations, careful consideration was given to the structural design. <Our project members> [Sales/Project Management] Satoshi Arai, Hitomi Yamamoto [Planning/Consulting] Kenichi Sakazume, Yuki Shimokuni [design, layout] NAU: Sakae Kirioka, Nana Kosano

"Sho-u-kan" is a part of the former residence of Count Abe, the former lord of the Fukuyama Domain, built in 1892 in Nishikata-cho, Hongo-ku, Tokyo. In 1971, Tokio Kasuga, the founder of Green Stamp Co., Ltd., relocated and restored it in Karuizawa, and it has been used as a memorial hall for the Green Stamp Karuizawa dormitory. In 2020, Sho-u-kan was renovated at the same time as the newly renovated annex, to be used as a retreat facility by both Green Stamp Co., Ltd. and Kennedyx Co., Ltd. Our company was in charge of the design and interior administration of the Sho-u-kan renovation, including seismic retrofitting, as well as the installation of FF&E (First Floor & Energy) equipment throughout the facility. [Social Issues / Customer Issues / Requests] Since its initial relocation, various additions and renovations have been carried out, and the connection to the other building is only made at the point of a corridor, and structural stress has been placed on the building, resulting in settlement. The entire facility was aging, and in the case of Sho-u-kan, it was difficult to use in winter due to the climate of Karuizawa. Also, although it originally had tatami mats, the frequency of its use had decreased due to changes in the lifestyle of Japanese people. However, there was a desire to renovate it while preserving as much of its original appearance as possible. [Solution] Based on an investigation of Sho-u-kan, it was restored as much as possible to its simple form from when it was relocated, and a seismic diagnosis was conducted to reinforce the structure to withstand seismic forces equivalent to those stipulated by the Building Standards Act. It faces the annex across a courtyard, giving a sense of unity to the entire facility. While respecting the original design as much as possible, the aim was to extend the period of use, including winters other than the coldest period, by installing insulation and air conditioning equipment in the unseen parts. Underfloor heating was installed and the flooring was changed to hardwood, and the walls added for seismic reinforcement were made to express the original image of the walls, fixtures, etc., and the upper half of the space was preserved as much as possible of the original design. <Our Project Members> [Sales] Kayu Tatsumi [Survey, design, layout, and interior administration] NAU1: Norio Koito [Production and construction] Mikiya Fujitaka