The Westin Miyako Kyoto Chapel Renovation

Our intention was not simply to renovate a wedding chapel, but to regenerate a place of blessing where visitors could gradually distance themselves from everyday life and enter a quieter state of mind. This idea became the foundation of what we call The Reborn Chapel.The wooden ceiling lattice developed from our study of light in Japanese landscapes and sacred places: filtered sunlight through trees, the calm illumination of temples and shrines, and the stillness created by changing shadows. Instead of introducing actual skylights, we reinterpreted these impressions through artificial lighting. Concealed light is diffused through the timber lattice to create Tenko, or Heavenly Light, a soft radiance that seems to descend from above.The lattice is not only a visual element. From the beginning, it was designed to integrate light, shadow, acoustics, maintenance, and fire safety. It softens sound reflection, creates depth through delicate shadows, and gives warmth to the space through the presence of cedar wood.In this way, the ceiling became a device that unifies atmosphere and performance. We hoped it would create a contemporary chapel where people could feel quietly embraced by light, material, sound, and the memory of the surrounding landscape.

A contemporary hotel chapel is not a space dedicated only to one specific religion. It is a place where people from many cultural backgrounds gather to celebrate one of the most important moments of their lives. For that reason, we felt that simply reproducing the image of a Western church would not be enough.Our approach was inspired by Togo Murano, especially the architecture of the original Miyako Hotel Kyoto. Rather than referencing Murano's formal vocabulary, we sought to inherit his architectural attitude—an ability to reconcile Western formality with Japanese sensitivity, material expression, and a profound awareness of place.This hybrid approach was proposed by our design team and accepted by the hotel. Instead of relying on obvious religious symbols, we focused on more universal experiences: light, shadow, natural materials, sound, and calmness.Wedding ceremonies may follow Western rituals, but the emotions they carry—gratitude, commitment, remembrance, and blessing—are universal. We wanted to create a chapel that feels open to different beliefs and cultures, while still being deeply rooted in Kyoto, Higashiyama, and the dignity of the Miyako Hotel.

The Westin Miyako Kyoto has a history of more than 130 years and has long held a special position in Kyoto's cultural and hospitality landscape. It is not merely a hotel, but a place where memories, traditions, and relationships with the surrounding landscape have accumulated over generations.For this reason, our approach was not to erase the existing chapel and replace it with a completely new image. We regarded the project as an act of regeneration. The existing walls, openings, structural framework, ceiling geometry, and overall spatial composition were largely retained. Upon this inherited framework, we introduced a renewed language of light, materiality, acoustics, and atmosphere.We named the project The Reborn Chapel because it represents more than a renovation. It is a renewed place of contemplation and celebration that carries forward the dignity of the Miyako Hotel while responding to contemporary expectations.For us, preservation does not mean freezing architecture in time. It means allowing inherited values to continue evolving. We hoped to create a place gently blessed by its landscape, history, and the enduring presence of nature.