Interview about Myoken Ishiharaso Hotel, winner of the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award 2022
In order to improve the livability, the space was roughly divided into three spaces: a bedroom, a living room, and a semi-outdoor open air bath. The semi-outdoor space is a luxurious and relaxing space where you can enjoy the natural hot springs that spring from the premises while feeling the light, wind, water, and the changes of the four seasons. The space is a timeless space that collects the best of high-quality natural materials and craft techniques by actively using traditional Japanese crafts, omitting unnecessary decorations.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsI thought that by simplifying the space and using traditional materials as accents, the materials would be more noticeable. Japanese traditional materials are very delicate and many of them can be recycled, so even if they age, they can be replaced with new ones.
You can enjoy the hot springs at any time in the privacy of your room. Although it is a semi-outdoor space, it is also air-conditioned, so you can stay comfortable all year round.
At Myoken Ishiharaso, we are trying new things in various aspects such as hospitality methods and cuisine, so it was inevitable that we would renovate the space.
We wanted to focus on the healing powers of hot springs, a blessing from nature, so we tried to choose natural building materials rather than artificial ones wherever possible.
Because the inn is located in the mountains, we chose materials that can be found in the surrounding area. We had a local washi craftsman who has been making washi paper by hand for a long time make it specially for this room. The shoji screens, which are made by combining small wooden parts, were also designed specially for this room.
By keeping the space as simple as possible, we have created a room where you can feel the grandeur of the natural outdoors. We aimed to create a room where you can rediscover the benefits of hot springs without being influenced by the trends of the times.
We wanted to focus on the value of the hot spring, so we placed it in the center of the semi-outdoor space. You can enter and exit the hot spring freely from inside the room, so you can enjoy the hot spring without worrying about the time.
The flow of traffic is centered around the living room, allowing free access to the bedroom and the semi-open-air bath. The semi-open-air bath is also designed to be directly accessible from the shower room.
The hot spring water gushes out from underground near the guest rooms, so the facilities were not too difficult to prepare. However, because they want to provide fresh hot spring water, they bring it directly into the bathtub without exposing it to air.
I think that excessive design is unnecessary while carefully preserving the identity that has been passed down without being swayed by trends. I think that design skills that get to the essence and convey only the necessary information are necessary.
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