Thermal Spring Ornatus Interior Fontis Thermalis by Yohei Akao

Thermal Spring Ornatus Interior Fontis Thermalis by Yohei Akao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Praemium A' Design Award Aureum in Designatio Interior Competition Category.

AurumInterior· 2021

Thermal Spring Ornatus Interior Fontis Thermalis

by Yohei Akao

Client: Strickland

Praemium A' Design Award Aureum Winner in Interior Category

27,816

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #120175

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Colors

The Design

About Thermal Spring Ornatus Interior Fontis Thermalis

Fons Thermalis est aedificium balneare fontium calidorum in primo tabulato subterraneo deversorii Kiotensi in Iaponia. Spatium interius CDLXIX metra quadrata complectitur, aditu et ambulacro inclusis, aquaque calida naturali utitur quae ex ipso solo oritur. Consilium operis inspiratur geologia Kiotensi, traditionibus spiritualibus urbis atque memoria terrae. Lapides hortenses in loco inventi reformati sunt et iterum adhibiti ad sculpturam lapideam et pavimentum. Paries argillaceus colore indico profundo culturam tinctoriam localem revocat, dum paries graniticus superficie naturali venas aquarum subterraneas significat.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Aureum

Thermal Spring Ornatus Interior Fontis Thermalis victor est Praemii A' Design Award Aureum, honoris amplissimi formis primi ordinis, mirabilibus et praestantibus dati. Victores Aurei sunt opera valde nova, provida et splendida, quae ingenium, sapientiam et peritiam auctorum suorum referunt. Exspectatur Thermal Spring Ornatus Interior Fontis Thermalis inventum laudatissimum, inclinationes creans et monumentale fore, quod pretium inauditum afferat. Haec forma Aureo praemio victa est incepto mirabile et honoratum, quod fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovet. Thermal Spring Ornatus Interior Fontis Thermalis cupiditatem vehementem excitat, studium accendit, ingenium creandi fovet et capit.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This Thermal Spring is located in B1 at Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto in Japan. Being located in Kyoto, which has a deep history and culture in Japan, and being located in front of Nijo castle, which is valuable historical heritage that has looked at Japan's long history elevate the value even more. Utilizing the natural hot springs that spring up from this site and the design derived by scenic beauty of Kyoto also produce the luxury space in the basement floor.
Dimensions & Packaging: Total area of Thermal Spring including the entrance and corridor is 469 square meters.
The basement 1 has also other facilities, Spa treatment and fitness area.
Tags: hotel, wellness, luxury, hospitality, Spa, relaxing,
Production Technology: ・ Modify the scenic stones on this land and reuse them for stone sculpture and floor stone.
・ A clay wall that expresses water using the indigo dyeing culture of Kyoto
・ Granite wall with natural skin inspired by groundwater veins
Design Challenge: Realizing a space that combines a sacred atmosphere and geology was the most challenging content.
The story of how to reach the final destination, the thermal spring, is not artificial, and maintaining the most natural state for the guest,
and the material is like designing the air, not the shape.
The design was completed by paying close attention to the selection of the material and the level of light.
Research: In design, researching on the "location" and "history" of its land is very important. What happened in this place, what was happening in this place?
The town of Kyoto, in front of Nijo Castle, a World Heritage Site, the residence that was the root of the client. Gradually narrowing the scope of research, we carefully narrowed down the appropriate way of land. Ultimately, it should be the only space with a story that can only be expressed in this land.
Inspiration: The facility is inspired by three cores. The first is "geology of Kyoto". The underground of Kyoto is a water basin that stores abundant water, and we have got the inspiration by the groundwater veins covered with rocks 1000 meters underground. The second is "spirituality of Kyoto". There are many sacred temples and shrines in Kyoto. We have been inspired by the spiritual experience of water, light and sound that can be obtained there. The final "memory of this land" is the value of revisiting the original scenery stones (garden stones) of this land and placing them in this facility again.
Project Duration: The project has started in 2017 and finished in November 2020, located in Kyoto, Japan.
Operation Flow: Arriving at basement, you will encounter a stone object that has been here for a long time. The sound of dripping water and the very underground water vein surrounded by the bedrock are followed by a deep indigo plastered clay wall. Beyond that, there is a corridor where you can feel the continuity of Shiraki, and when you proceed, you will arrive at the reception. And when passing through the changing room, a thermal spring just like a water garden spreads out in front of you.
Patents: copyright @ STRICKLAND
Team Members: Lighting Designer : Worktecht lighting Design & Consultant
Art Consultant : Ilya
Image Credits: Photographer Yoshio Shiratori