Itomachi Hotel 0 ホテルインテリアデザイン by Ikuma Watase

Itomachi Hotel 0 ホテルインテリアデザイン by Ikuma Watase is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 鉄賞 in インテリア空間・展示デザイン Competition Category.

鉄インテリア· 2025

Itomachi Hotel 0 ホテルインテリアデザイン

by Ikuma Watase

Client: Ikuma Watase

A' Design Award 鉄賞 Winner in インテリア Category

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Colors

The Design

About Itomachi Hotel 0 ホテルインテリアデザイン

「いとまちホテル0（ゼロ）」は、日本の西条市に位置するホテルのインテリアおよびランドスケープデザインである。太陽光発電システムとエコロジカルな素材を採用し、日本初のネット・ゼロ・エネルギー・ビルディング（ZEB）認証を取得したホテルである。デザインは、井戸から汲み上げられる地下水「うちぬき」と伊予青石という二つの地域資源に着想を得ている。各客室にはエントランスに面したオープンな洗面台を設け、中央の中庭にも「うちぬき」を配することで、ホテル全体に水の音が響き渡る。このデザインは、まちの活性化を支えるものである。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鉄賞

Itomachi Hotel 0 ホテルインテリアデザインは、よく設計された創造物に期待される専門的・産業的要件を満たす優れたデザインに授与される、権威ある評価である A' Design Award 鉄賞の受賞作品です。鉄賞の受賞作品は、制作者の高い技量、高度な専門性、専門家としての理解、創造的な能力を示しています。Itomachi Hotel 0 ホテルインテリアデザインは、高く評価され、称賛され、愛される、実用的で革新的な創造物であることが期待されます。この A' Design Award 鉄賞を受賞したデザインは、業界のベストプラクティスを統合し、ノウハウと才能に結びついた有能な技術的特性を備えています。Itomachi Hotel 0 ホテルインテリアデザインは、その徹底ぶりで尊敬され、世界をより良い場所にするための生活の質の向上をもたらすよう設計されています。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Itomachi Hotel 0 is a zero-energy hotel that has adopted solar power systems and ecological materials, making it the first in Japan to obtain Net Zero Energy Building(ZEB) certification. The design is based on local cultural and environmental resources, specifically Uchinuki (groundwater from well) and Iyo Blue Stone, with the goal of creating a foundation for the revitalization of the town as a symbol of Saijo.
Dimensions & Packaging: In this project, it was possible to propose not only the interior design but also the landscape design as a unified concept.
Therefore, Uchinuki was placed not only in the guest rooms but also in the center of the courtyard, planned so that the sound of water always echoes throughout the hotel.
The color scheme was based on the use of light and dark tones of stone in each space.
All guests to allways experience the local character and charms of Saijo wherever they are in the hotel.
Tags: Hotel, interior, landscape, sustainable, recycling, Renewable Energy, Net Zero Energy Building, SDGs
Production Technology: The layout of the guest rooms was centered around Uchinuki. Each guest room features an open-format washbasin directly across from the entrance, creating a symbolic that evokes the abundant water resources.
The villa type has an open-air bath with natural hot spring water that comes from a deeper stratum than Uchinuki. Guests can experience cold and hot types of water, which is a rare environmental resource of Saijo.
Design Challenge: Japan is facing a serious population decline, particularly in rural areas where urban decay is evident through the increasing number of vacant houses and abandoned farmland. Saijo is experiencing similar challenges, and the project owner, originally from Saijo, was seeking solutions.
In response, we thought that by designing the hotel based on Uchinuki and Iyo Blue Stone, guests could experience the charm of Saijo, and the hotel could serve as a symbol for the revitalization of the town.
Research: Saijo does not have tourist attractions like those found in Tokyo or Kyoto. However, it boasts a pleasant climate and a rich rural landscape nestled between mountains and the sea, making it an ideal location for urban workers seeking workation opportunities and for people living in nearby cities for a second home.
Therefore, we planed kitchen and co-working space, rare for hotels.
As a result, the hotel is used by many business guests who aim to "spending time in this town, at this hotel".
Inspiration: The region utilizes underground water from wells called "Uchinuki," unique to the area due to the local terrain, and there is no conventional water supply system as found elsewhere in Japan. This water is very clean and can be consumed directly.
The area is also known for producing "Iyo Blue Stone," which has a bluish-green hue with white stripes. The stone changes from a light tone when dry to a darker tone when wet.
These two unique resources were used as design keywords for the design.
Project Duration: The project started in November 2021 in Ehime,Japan and finished in March 2024, and ITOMACHI HOTEL 0 was opened in May 2024.
Operation Flow: we proposed ecological design that combines natural resources such as Uchinuki and Iyo Blue Stone with sustainable materials made from recycled glass and fibers, as well as traditional local crafts like washi paper and ceramics.
This hotel is committed not only to maintaining the environment during its construction but also to contributing to job creation for local residents and increasing the town's revenue, thereby supporting the revitalization of the community for years to come.
Image Credits: Image#1-5: Photographer Yoshiro Masuda,2024.