“Getting to the top of any given mountain was considered much less important than how one got there,” – Jon Krakauer
Japanese hotel Oyado Onn Nakatsugawa has designed an interior inspired by the experience of climbing a mountain.
Tokyo-based architecture firm Naruse Inokuma unveils Oyado Onn Nakatsugawa, a timber-infused hotel located in the city of Nakatsugawa of Gifu, Japan. The design takes its cues from the topography of the area, which is known for its Kiso cypress production and slopes gently down to Mount Ena, long an object of worship. Inside, several floors are connected along the terrain with stairs and slopes to mimic the experience of climbing the mountain.
Japanese cypress (Hinoki) is used for the wooden pillars that support the steel frame, while the coffered ceiling, the floors with sagging, the waist walls of the dining space are made of Moen-Wood, a fire-resistant laminated lumber. The reception counter is hardened with resin, while the artwork that reproduces the atmosphere of a lumber mill, and the large public bath are also made of Moen-Wood. Various elements such as partitions are scattered within the space to replicate the image of planting cypress trees on the slopes of the mountain. Moenwood is also used in the elevator lobbies on each floor, while the cypress used in the standard guest rooms and the special guest rooms is completely different. Cypress is used in a way that enhances the charm of the building, and has been designed to represent a diverse forest, just like the first floor.
architects: Naruse Inokuma Architects
lead architect: Bae Hasegawa Hiyori
location: Nakatsugawa,Gifu
All images courtesy of Masao Nishikawa
