Oott Funció Primària: Hotels by Toru Teraoka

Oott Funció Primària: Hotels by Toru Teraoka is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award d'Argent in Disseny d'Hostaleria, Lleure, Viatges i Turisme Competition Category.

ArgentHostaleria· 2026

Oott Funció Primària: Hotels

by Toru Teraoka

Client: OOTT | Toru Teraoka

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Hostaleria Category

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The Design

About Oott Funció Primària: Hotels

Text del Llibre: Situada als boscos de Karuizawa, aquesta sala es concep com un lloc on l'arquitectura, la natura i la comunitat s'entrecreuen. Desenvolupada al llarg de gairebé una dècada mitjançant la col·laboració entre client, constructor i arquitecte, forma part d'un paisatge en evolució amb instal·lacions aptes per a gossos. L'edifici serveix com a sala d'estar comunitària i espai d'entrenament interior. Quan s'obren les grans obertures, l'interior s'alinea amb el bosc, permetent que el paisatge hi flueixi. Una coberta estratificada aporta una llum diürna suau, creant una atmosfera serena. La construcció senzilla de fusta mostra com els mitjans modestos s'integren amb la natura.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

Oott Funció Primària: Hotels és un guanyador del guardó A' Design Award d'Argent, un reconeixement extraordinàriament prestigiós concedit a dissenys d'alta gamma, esplèndids i impressionants. Els guanyadors d'Argent són obres tremendament brillants i summament creatives que il·lustren la perícia, el talent i la perspicàcia excepcionals dels seus dissenyadors. Es preveu que Oott Funció Primària: Hotels sigui una obra meravellosa i de gran lluïment, remarcablement professional i profundament innovadora. Aquest disseny guanyador del guardó A' Design Award d'Argent és un invent molt notable i admirat que beneficia i fa avançar els límits de l'art, la ciència, el disseny i la tecnologia. Oott Funció Primària: Hotels és una creació molt envejada que evoca desitjos, introdueix sentiments positius i desperta sorpresa i admiració.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: A hall nestled in the forest of Karuizawa, a renowned summer retreat. For ten years, the client, builder, and architect have continued developing the facility together, overcoming the pandemic and social change to create a contemporary Japanese architecture with enduring universality. Tents for guests with dogs, a dog school, and a grassy run are dispersed across the site, expanded step by step. Conceived for hospitality and sustainable community, the hall extends seamlessly into nature.
Dimensions & Packaging: Floor Area:129m²
Tags: Japan, Karuizawa, Japanese design, timber architecture, wooden structure, hotel, architecture, nature
Production Technology: All square timbers are unified to the standard Japanese size of 120×120 mm, while selected beams use 60×120 mm members hand-split by local carpenters, balancing structural logic with spatial richness. Though based on structural analysis, the joinery conceals its complexity. Developed amid rising material costs during the pandemic, the design balances quality and budget, minimizes concrete, and uses local carpentry with minimal metal fittings to reduce environmental impact.
Design Challenge: For a decade, the same client, builder, and architect worked together, building trust and creating a structure that embodies coexistence with nature. Amid rising material and labor costs during the pandemic, balancing design and budget was crucial. The plan secures needed area and generous volume while controlling cost. Timber was hand-crafted and assembled manually, concrete minimized, and local carpentry with few metal fittings reduced environmental impact.
Research: The design shows deep respect for material essence. Timber and minimal concrete are left exposed, creating refined architectural honesty. Visitors enter a bright space clad in hinoki cypress, continuous with grass and trees, honoring Japanese beauty. External insulation ensures comfort in harsh winters, while the exposed wooden frame expresses both structure and performance. Rooted in its locale, it embodies a Japanese aesthetic connected to the world.
Inspiration: The project shows deep respect for the delicate workings of nature, fostering empathy in its visitors. By placing nature at the center, it seeks harmony between people and environment. Built in timber, the space connects seamlessly with the surrounding landscape and remains committed to sustainability. Developed amid rising material costs during the pandemic, it balances design quality and budget through the use of standard materials and conventional methods, embodying coexistence with nature.
Project Duration: Completed in 2023, the project has received numerous awards both in Japan and internationally.
Operation Flow: The building serves as a lounge for guests and a dog training space on rainy days. When both sides are opened, the forest extends through the hall, and soft light enters from high windows between the three roofs, creating a transparent space rooted in Japanese sensibility. It connects visitors with local nature. Located among private villas, it also functions as a café and open community hub, fostering ties between travelers and residents.
Patents: OOTT, Toru Teraoka, 2023
Team Members: TORU TERAOKA
Image Credits: All photo : Photographer / Tatsuya Tabii