Works#Architecture/Conversion

As a hotel that introduces "Kyoto Toji Temple" in an easy-to-understand manner that cannot be fully enjoyed in a one-time sightseeing trip, the little-known Buddha statue mandala is illustrated, and you can walk around the city freely opening and closing while comparing the old and the modern. In the lobby, we installed a map, a large table where you can copy sutras with sand, and a wall artwork of Buddha smiling with a motion sensor. In addition, the full-size pillar with a motif of a five-storied pagoda was used as a bookshelf to impart wisdom because the actual central pillar itself is a mandala.

The former Suzuki Residence, a large estate in the Toi district of Nishi-Izu 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 antique beauty" in mind, the buildings and exterior have been renovated to create an auberge with two guest rooms. The main house's cramped layout has been revised to create a sense of spaciousness in all directions, ensuring modern comfort. The three storehouses were designed to preserve the atmosphere of the past by utilizing the unique spatial characteristics of each and adding minimal design elements. Two of the storehouses were renovated into guest rooms with luxurious outdoor open-air baths, and one was converted into a lounge and spa. The result is an auberge that blends seamlessly with the surrounding accommodations and is loved by the community. [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] While Toi has long been a popular hot spring inn town, the lack of variety in restaurants, cafes that serve as tourist hubs, and tourist content that utilizes the food resources of Nishi-Izu has resulted in low tourist spending, which has been a long-standing issue. The client's request for this facility development was not to prioritize business profitability, but rather to create a facility that would benefit the community and be accepted and loved by both tourists and local residents. [Solution] Our company respected the passage of time that the buildings had accumulated on this land, and we believed that it was necessary to find the unique character of each building and transform it into an attractive feature. We revised the floor plan while considering the structural burden of the existing non-conforming buildings, and by respecting the character of each building, we made it the charm of each facility itself: the main house with its deep roof structure, the first storehouse which became a lounge with its roughly plastered walls, the second storehouse which became a lodging building with its dynamic one-room space, and the third storehouse which has a vertical expanse of two stories and the earthen walls hidden behind the wooden walls. [Client's Voice] Despite the short deadline, the former Suzuki residence, which represents the history of Toi, was restored with extremely high-quality design and construction techniques. As a result, not only tourists who come to "LOQUAT Nishi-Izu," but also local residents visit on a daily basis, and it has become a place of relaxation that provides a little bit of richness in their daily lives. Every day, not only the accommodation buildings but also the restaurants, bakeries, and gelaterias are bustling with activity, often fully booked or sold out. <Our Project Members> [Sales & Project Management] Shinya Hiratsuka, Nobuyuki Yagi [Planning] Saki Ninomiya [Design & Planning] Norio Koito, Hirofumi Inoue, Tadahiro Nakajima, Ryotaro Tezuka [Production & Construction] Jun Endo, Takayuki Inoue, Nohara Kikuchi

This project involved converting the former Kiyomizu Elementary School building, which has a history of approximately 90 years and remains in the Kiyomizu area of Kyoto, into a hotel. While inheriting its distinctive design, it was reborn as a hotel that also possesses modern comforts. Our company was in charge of architectural design supervision, interiors design, layout, and FF&E concept design and construction. Kiyomizu Elementary School is one of the schools that has been recognized for its unique architectural features in its location, exterior decoration, and interiors concept design. Based on the hotel's concept of "etching memories and connecting to the future," we paid the utmost respect to the historical Western architecture and its interior space, creating concept design that revives memories while preserving and passing them on. Furthermore, we fused the architecture and interior space as new functions to express both nostalgia and newness. [Client's Challenges/Requests] It was necessary to design a hotel that would function while making use of the existing historical elementary school building. It was also necessary to have repeated discussions about what kind of hotel would be accepted by the Kyoto community. [Solution] We worked with creators on every detail, from architecture, landscape, interior, FF&E, artwork, graphics, and uniforms, to create a completely new and unique space. While preserving the corridors and staircases where elementary school children once ran around, opening the doors to the classrooms where children studied allows you to step into a completely different, contemporary world. To maximize the value of the existing details that have etched the history of the architecture and interior space, we focused on materials that do not assert themselves but instead highlight the materials themselves. The reflection of the semi-glossy materials further enhances the existing architectural design. We aimed to create a spatial composition based on "reinterpretation" that can only be experienced here, by harmoniously balancing the total concept design coordination of artwork, graphics, uniforms, and interiors and FF&E concept design. <Our Project Members> [Sales/Project Management] Toru Moenuki [design, layout, design supervision] A.N.D.: Ryu Kosaka, Shohei Urata, Hiroki Yasuda / Hiroyuki Nishikawa [FF&E concept design] A.N.D.: Kaori Sano

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

A storehouse in the samurai residences of Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture has been renovated into a lodging facility. The concept is "KURA STAY," and the hotel is a cultural experience hotel where the lifestyle of the time has been preserved in the storehouse. The hotel consists of three storehouses, the "Bushigura," the "Gakkogura," and the "Tamonogura," for rent. The space incorporates Kakunodate's traditional crafts of birch crafts and Iburi-gakko production scenes, textile art such as plant dyeing, and samurai family crests, providing a local cultural experience throughout the stay. In addition, decorations have been provided in cooperation with local shops, and information is provided within the facility, which also serves as a tourist hub to encourage travel.

Hoshino Resorts' new concept, "OMO," a hotel specializing in urban tourism, was launched in the spring of 2018. The first hotel to open under this new concept, "OMO7 Asahikawa," is a rebranding project of a long-established local hotel. The brand concept is "An urban tourism hotel that elevates the excitement of travel, not just a place to sleep." It incorporates various playful and engaging elements throughout the space to further enhance the appeal of service content that connects travelers and locals and makes exploring the city more enjoyable, proposing a new communication concept design for the hotel market.