merci team 4/12/23 merci team 4/12/23

Pritzker Laureate Ryue Nishizawa's Latest Masterpiece: A Meditative Timber Retreat in Karuizawa, Shishi-Iwa House

Discover the Tranquility of Hinoki House No.3, Ryue Nishizawa's Latest Architectural Masterpiece, a Meditative Timber Retreat in Karuizawa that Pays Homage to Traditional Japanese Residential Architecture and Celebrates Sustainability

Shishi-Iwa House, the collection of architectural masterpieces situated in Karuizawa, Japan, has announced the opening of SSH No.03. Designed by Pritzker Prize laureate and co-founder of SANAA, Ryue Nishizawa, the mountain nature retreat is an homage to traditional Japanese residential architecture and is Nishizawa's first hotel project. SSH No.03 joins the two other Houses in the collection, SSH No.01 and SSH No.02, designed by Pritzker Prize laureate Shigeru Ban. All three Houses are situated mere minutes from each other and form SHISHI-IWA HOUSE KARUIZAWA, with guests sharing all common facilities.

SSH No.03 is comprised of 10 pavilions interconnected by a series of engawa and garden courtyards. With only 10 guest rooms and 1 cabin villa, the retreat is exclusive and offers both Superior Rooms and Tatami Suites. Inspired by spacial transparency and the Japanese concept of negative space, Nishizawa has deliberately created empty areas through minimal furnishings and embellishments, allowing natural light to stream continuously through the rooms' windows.

Hinoki cypress wood is prominently featured throughout SSH No.03, sourced from Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Considered a sacred wood in Japan, it has been used for centuries to build shrines, temples, and palaces due to its durability and aromatic scent. Sustainability is also a top priority, with a small building footprint and the use of carbon-friendly timber sourced primarily in Japan.

The winding engawa walkway that intersects the pavilions offers in-between spaces for discovery and contemplation, with the landscape carefully constructed with over hundreds of cherry, maple, and evergreen trees. Four Japanese courtyards provide moments of stillness, completing a spiritual journey in which guests become one with nature and with themselves.

A bathhouse and tea house complement the Ma experience envisioned by the architect, with plans to offer massage, yoga, and meditation sessions. The location within the serene Karuizawa Yacho no Mori, the National Wild Bird Sanctuary, in the embrace of almost 100 hectares of lush forest, expands moments of rejuvenation, with forest bathing and special walking tours.

Guests also have direct access to all facilities at SSH No.01 and SSH No.02, including the restaurant and bar, offering fine dining options, sake, wine, and whisky tastings, and tea rituals. A collection of antique Japanese furniture and vintage mid-century modern furniture, including historically significant pieces by Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Jeanneret, Arne Jacobsen, Borge Mogensen, Bill Max, Michael Thonet, and Bodil Kjaer, complement the House's traditional architecture.

A significant cultural heritage collection of approximately 50 original ukiyo-e woodblock prints from a dozen major artists, including Utagawa Hiroshige and Shibata Zeshin in the 1840s, and Azechi Umetaro and Sekino Junichiro in the 1960s, is on display throughout SSH No.03.

Complementing the House's traditional architecture is a collection of antique Japanese furniture and vintage mid-century modern furniture, including historically significant pieces by renowned designers. The interiors are beautifully curated with minimalist decor that creates a tranquil atmosphere, allowing guests to fully unwind and relax in luxury.

SSH No.03 offers an immersive and unique experience that combines traditional Japanese architecture, natural beauty, and modern luxury living. It is an ideal destination for families and friends to spend quality time together in a peaceful and serene environment, away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

Complementing the House’s traditional architecture is a collection of antique Japanese furniture as well as vintage mid-century modern furniture, including historically significant pieces by Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Jeanneret, Arne Jacobsen, Borge Mogensen, Bill Max, Michael Thonet, andBodil Kjaer.
On display throughout SSH No.03 is a significant cultural heritage collection of approximately 50 original ukiyo-e woodblock prints from a dozen major artists including Utagawa Hiroshige and Shibata Zeshin in the 1840s, and Azechi Umetaro and Sekino Junichiro in the 1960s.

You can visit: https://www.shishiiwahouse.jp

merci team 5/2/22 merci team 5/2/22

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu has conserved and re-concerned the aesthetics of Japan and design by Nomura Co., Ltd A.N.D

Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is a renovation initiative that aimed to preserve and re-recognize the Japanese beauty of the former Kiyomizu Elementary School with a 90-year history in Kyoto. It will have 4 floors and 6,800 square meters in total floor area.

The Hotel is located on the mountain slope with picturesque views in a district with many historical sites including significant Kyoto cultural assets, which have been nurtured by eons of history.

The hotel's name combines two elements: Tokyo Kiyomizu, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, and Seiryu, a legendary guardian god of Higashiyama that embodies the spirit of this one-and-only hotel built from the remnants of an historic elementary school.

There are many delicate details in the school building. The interior of the building features not only Spanish tiles, arched windows, and double-width tiles, but also decorative haunch beams, wood spandrel walls, and mosaic tile finishing.

Design by Nomura Co., Ltd A.N.D from Japan. By combining nostalgia with newness, our team made sure to pay utmost homage to western architecture. To enhance the historic details of stairs, beams, and corridors, an inorganic, black-and-white, and semi-glossy material was selected.

The Design Team converted gymnasiums and auditoriums formerly used by schoolchildren into restaurants and spas. A significant rooftop bar has been reborn on the former roof of the school building which overlooks Kyoto city. Guests can experience the old times by viewing the same Yasaka Pagoda, scenic mountains and city of Kyoto that former school children looked at.

The A.N.D team designed a space where guests can view photographs, documents, and records from the elementary school's history in order to realize the concept of "Imprint memories and connect to the future." The assemblance of spaces re-assigned with different stories creates a resounding "heritage hotel" where history, culture, and architecture come together.

This project plays an instrumental role in how we view the future for future generations, both according to the design team and the hotel. In this way, Japanese culture is passed on to them as well as their sense of regionality and sociality from their parents.

Designer Profiles

Left: 株式会社乃村工藝社 A.N.D. 小坂竜Ａ.Ｎ.Ｄ., Nomura Co., Ltd. Ryu Kosaka

Top Left: 株式会社乃村工藝社 A.N.D. 浦田晶平Ａ.Ｎ.Ｄ., Nomura Co., Ltd. Shohei Urata

Top Right: 株式会社乃村工藝社 A.N.D. 安田紘基Ａ.Ｎ.Ｄ., Nomura Co., Ltd. Hiroki Yasuda

Lower Left: 株式会社乃村工藝社萠抜徹 Nomura Co., Ltd. Toru Haenuki

Lower right: 株式会社乃村工藝社西川裕之 Nomura Co., Ltd. Hiroyuki Nishikawa

This project won the Bronze award in the interior design division of Sky Design Awards www.skydesignawards.com in 2021.

For more information about 株式会社乃村工藝社 A.N.D, please visit:

https://www.and-design.jp/en/

merci team 4/14/22 merci team 4/14/22

S&N Resort, dreamlike land of peace and offering a hint of Zen.

Amidst mountains and trees, In S&N Resort is situated in West Dharma Village, Fangshan District, Beijing. Bodhidharma disciples of Shaolin Temple in Songshan of the twenty-eighth generation traveled all over the world, according to legend. Under the protection of Bodhidharma, they built temples, spread Buddhism, performed good deeds, and cured illness of local people in Baihuashan. A mountain peak nearby is named Dharma Mountain, and the village is referred to as West Dharma Village in honor of the virtues of Dharma. A 1700 square-meter construction, originally built as a residential cluster, was replanned and redesigned. Through the center of the site, a stream flows gently down the mountain. Many trees grow in the water, surrounded by giant stones that have been eroded over time. The surrounding environment is natural and peaceful, depicting a dreamlike land of peace and offering a hint of Zen.

The design's emphasis on "wildness" and "luxury" offers people a place to escape urban routines and relax during holidays, returning their body and mind to nature. Designed in harmony with water, the new building has two stories. A natural landscape can be enjoyed from each room, creating a dialogue between man and nature. Planning and design echo the surrounding village form and relate closely to the context of the site. Design, villages, and the surrounding natural environment are all organic.

Architectural forms fluctuate according to the mountain's rises and falls. It combines the characteristics of southern and northern Chinese folk houses. A short distance from the site is the famous residential settlement known as Cuan, one of the most iconic stone typologies in north China. As a result, brick and stone provide a solid foundation for the building. A wooden structure on the second floor is based on the designs of Naxi folk houses in Yunnan, a southern province of China. As a result, the forms of folk house can be combined flexibly and grafted together in a modern context, breaking the boundaries of time and space.

Multiple aspects of the design are improved by the redesigned composition. Besides blocking moisture and stabilizing the foundation, the stone structure on the bottom helps give the building a sense of growth by organically integrating it with its surroundings. It is a perfect example of organic architecture. In addition to using stone building materials around the site, the construction is also carried out by local craftsmen. InsThis building embodies the spirit and character of the region by maintaining continuity and unity with its surroundings.bracing traditional residential forms, the sloping roof creates a subtle and relaxing atmosphere within the hotel. The two-story building is constructed of light and flexible wood, creating a natural and livable indoor environment. With the application of wood and stone, the space is filled with layers of pleasant qualities.

By connecting the hotel lobby and guest rooms across the water, guests are able to enjoy the attractive natural environment while stepping into the site. Hotel guests can choose from a total of 24 rooms, including rooms with views of the water or terraces. By making the building an integral part of the environment, the design maximizes the views around the site. The terraces are designed to allow guests to chat, drink tea, and enjoy the view during their stay in the outdoors. It is the perfect place to cool off in the hot summer months when the infinity pool is in the courtyard. Throughout the hotel, large French windows frame a variety of outdoor landscapes including red bricks, blue water, and green mountains, creating the impression of a live painting. In the hotel's interior, exposed stones only enhance the uniqueness of the generous space and create a low-profile, yet vibrant atmosphere. Inside the building, the elaborate design and art placement reflect the tastes and aesthetics of the Orient. Quietness and openness come easily in such an environment. It creates a pleasant holiday environment that encourages people to linger at night when the hotels' lighting and the landscape corridor complement each other. As the hotel is surrounded by beautiful mountain views and babbling streams, it projects a peaceful, calming, comfortable and relaxing atmosphere, interpreting what is known as extreme romance of wild luxury.