ABOUT
This project involves the renovation of a hotel that has been located in the entertainment district of Umeda, Osaka, since the 1970s.
The lower floors house multiple saunas and large public baths, while the upper floors contain the world's first capsule hotel, built at the time of its opening.The client's main requests were as follows:
1. Regarding the facade and entrance: They wanted a design that clearly indicated it was a hot spring facility. They also wanted a Japanese-style feel that would appeal to budget travelers from overseas.
2. Regarding the capsules on the upper floors: These were designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa and are part of the collection of Osaka's "Living Architecture Museum."
Therefore, they wanted the capsules themselves left untouched, with the aim of creating a new spatial experience.Regarding point 1: The entire entrance and reception area was designed to resemble a sauna.
We focused on the similarities between the interior style of modern saunas and traditional Japanese interior styles. This style involves the extensive use of natural-colored wood for floors, walls, and furniture.
The entrance is glass-walled, allowing the entire building to be seen from the shopping street.
This creates the impactful impression of "a sauna suddenly appearing in the middle of a shopping street!"
Furthermore, a giant noren (traditional Japanese curtain) was installed on the facade. This idea originated from a construction-related consideration: a way to inexpensively conceal damage to the exterior wall before renovation.
However, this giant noren not only evokes a Japanese feel but also a somewhat nomadic atmosphere.
The result is a hotel with an atmosphere suitable for budget travelers.Regarding point 2: The existing ceiling was demolished and mirrors were installed on the ceiling. The capsules themselves were only cleaned; no modifications were made, and their placement remained unchanged.
In museums, when exhibits are three-dimensional objects such as vases, mirrors are often installed behind or above the exhibits to allow them to be viewed from various perspectives.
Similarly, with the awareness that "the capsules are exhibits within the museum," mirrors were used with the desire to encourage viewers to see the capsules from various angles.
As a result, the two-tiered capsules themselves are reflected in the ceiling, making them appear as if they are four tiers high.
The neatly arranged capsules create the illusion of a three-dimensional maze.
By making the old capsules appear as new objects, a time axis is added to the perception, creating a four-dimensional, extraordinary, and unprecedented spatial experience.
