Projects

Genji Kyoto源氏京都, (2022)

A 19-room luxury boutique hotel opened in April 2022, based upon the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji. The concept of the Hotel could best be described as one striving for a true Japanese experience through the use of all-natural materials and spatial techniques, such as thoroughly integrating interior and exterior spaces. Techniques like these have been expressed in Japanese architecture through the centuries since the Heian period, the era in which the Tale of Genji is set. The hotel's design was to keep the original proportions of the machiya (町家) that previously occupied the site.
Techniques like these have been expressed in Japanese architecture through the centuries since the Heian period, the era in which the Tale of Genji is set. The hotel's design was to keep the original proportions of the machiya (町家) that previously occupied the site. These typically long and narrow townhouses, with gardens toward the back, date back to the Heian period over a thousand years ago, and allow for natural cross-ventilation - a rarity in even the best hotels. In keeping with Shinden-zukuri (神殿作り) of the Heian period, the hotel was conceived as having two “wings”, connected by a bridge (渡廊下) through an allegorical Japanese garden. The rooms have stunning views of the Kamo River and nearby Higashiyama mountains, or of one’s own tsubo niwa (坪庭). Even though this is a modern 5-story hotel, all-natural materials, such as all-rush tatami, solid wood floors and furniture, were specified whenever possible. The natural washi in the 2 floor lobby windows that changes dramatically with the different natural light conditions was designed and produced using original techniques by Eriko Horiki, the Landscape design by Marc Peter Keane and the furniture by atimonte design.

All photos by of this project by Yoshinori Yamazaki.(山崎純敬)
To see a more detailed explanation please visit: https://genjikyoto.com