These guest rooms were designed as part of an annex to a membership resort hotel in Toba in Ise-Shima, where the 2016 G7 Summit was held. Arranged in an authentic Japanese style, the building is situated in a prime location overlooking the waters of Ise-Shima, with a traditional Japanese-style garden and a large pond that lends an impression of continuity to the sea. The interior was designed in a basic Japanese style that pursues new and modern expressions.

The overall building concept, TeiokuIchinyo (a Japanese expression representing the exquisite harmony between the building and the garden), was applied to the interior concept as well, with the floor plan and spaces designed with an eye on the connection of the rooms to the outside view. The guest rooms project traditional Japanese appeal, designed under the concept of IneiRaisan (lit. In Praise of Shadows), which reaffirms the existence of the traditional beauty of the country in the time-honoured light environment of Japan. 

Against this frame, the features of Japanese architecture, original settings, and traditional materials have been arranged in various places with the use of traditional colours, to create a uniquely new Japanese space. Asymmetrical planes that conform to nature and sliding paper doors that divide spaces and cloisters are used as coherent spaces connecting the indoors and outdoors. Headboards are designed as bedside screens to protect against the wind. An overlapping, twelve-layered, nesting method is used on walls where television storage boards are arranged, lending an impression of art with the use of overlaying panels.  

Watermark techniques are also used with traditional Japanese paper screens and lattices through which the light and breeze can pass through gently.

Furniture has been arranged with a low center of gravity, focusing on a low line of sight, and thought has been put into the concept of low lighting with the use of paper-framed lamps. Traditional wood, paper, gilt leaf, and lacquer are frequently used. 

Gold, silver, and copper have been added to the traditional Japanese colours of vermillion, indigo, and mustard-yellow to create a unique Japanese style. 

Data Sheet Interior design: NIKKEN SPACE DESIGN LTD, Takeshi NAKANO・Nobuko SUZUKI・Masami SAWAMURA

Architect: Yasui Architects & Engineers, Inc. 

Project, client: Resorttrust, Inc.  

Surface: 8,722.41㎡  

Completion date: 27/3/2016 

Project location: 212-8, Azanie, Arashima, Toba City, Mie, Japan, 517-0021 

Materials used in the project: Traditional Japanese paper, Gold, Silver and Copper leaf, Japanese (lacquer) 

Photography: Nacása & Partners Inc.

NIKKEN SPACE DESIGN’s XIV Toba Bettei has received a 2017 LEAF Award.