Itomachi Hotel 0 Famolavolana anaty Hotely by Ikuma Watase

Itomachi Hotel 0 Famolavolana anaty Hotely by Ikuma Watase is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Vy in Famolavolana Habaka Anatiny ary Fampisehoana Competition Category.

VyAnatiny· 2025

Itomachi Hotel 0 Famolavolana anaty Hotely

by Ikuma Watase

Client: Ikuma Watase

A' Design Award Vy Winner in Anatiny Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #164549

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Itomachi Hotel 0 Famolavolana anaty Hotely

Itomachi Hotel 0 dia famolavolana anaty sy tontolo iainana ho an'ny hotely, izay miorina ao Saijo, Japon. Mampiasa rafitra angovo masoandro sy fitaovana tsara ho an'ny tontolo iainana ilay hotely, ary izy no hotely voalohany any Japon nahazo mari-pahaizana ho Net Zero Energy Building. Miorina amin'ny loharanon-karena roa avy any an-toerana ny famolavolana, dia ny rano ambanin'ny tany Uchinuki azo avy amin'ny fantsakana sy ny vato Iyo Blue Stone. Ny efitrano tsirairay dia manana lavabo misokatra manatrika ny fidirana, ary napetraka eo amin'ny tokontany afovoany koa ny Uchinuki, ka re manerana ny hotely ny feon-drano. Manohana ny fanavaozana ny tanàna ity famolavolana ity.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Vy

Nandresy ny A' Design Award Vy ny famolavolana Itomachi Hotel 0 Famolavolana anaty Hotely, fankasitrahana malaza omena ny famolavolana tsara izay mahafeno ny fepetra ara-barotra sy ara-indostria andrasana amin'ny famoronana natao tsara. Ny mpandresy Vy dia mampiseho fahaiza-manao lehibe, fahaizana manokana ambony, fahatakarana manam-pahaizana ary fahaizana mamorona an'ireo mpamorona azy. Andrasana ho famoronana ankasitrahana be, ankafizina ary tiana izay azo ampiharina sady vaovao ny famolavolana Itomachi Hotel 0 Famolavolana anaty Hotely. Ity famolavolana nandresy ny A' Design Award Vy ity dia mampiray ny fomba fanao tsara indrindra amin'ny indostria ary manana toetra ara-teknika mahomby mifandray amin'ny fahalalana sy ny talenta. Ny famolavolana Itomachi Hotel 0 Famolavolana anaty Hotely dia hajaina noho ny fitandremany ary natao hanome fanatsarana ny kalitaon'ny fiainana izay manampy hahatonga ny tontolo ho toerana tsara kokoa.

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.