Itomachi Hotel 0 Hoahoa o Roto Hōtera by Ikuma Watase

Itomachi Hotel 0 Hoahoa o Roto Hōtera by Ikuma Watase is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Rino in Hoahoa Roto Whare me te Whakaaturanga Competition Category.

RinoRoto Whare· 2025

Itomachi Hotel 0 Hoahoa o Roto Hōtera

by Ikuma Watase

Client: Ikuma Watase

A' Design Award Rino Winner in Roto Whare Category

8,650

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 Hoahoa o Roto Hōtera

He hoahoa o roto me te whenua a Itomachi Hotel 0, kei Saijo, Hapani. E whakamahi ana te hōtera i ngā pūnaha hiko-rā me ngā taonga taiao, ā, koinei te hōtera tuatahi i Hapani kua whakamanahia hei Whare Hiko-Kore-Waiwai. Ko te tūāpapa o te hoahoa ko ngā rawa taiao e rua o te rohe, ko te wai-whenua Uchinuki e utaina ake ana i ngā puna, me te Kōhatu Kikorangi o Iyo. Kei ia rūma manuhiri he wharewaru tuwhera e anga ana ki te kūwaha, ā, kua whakanohoia hoki te Uchinuki ki te marae-waenganui, nō reira ka rangona te tangi o te wai puta noa i te hōtera. E tautoko ana tēnei hoahoa i te whakahaumanutanga o te tāone.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Rino

Ko Itomachi Hotel 0 Hoahoa o Roto Hōtera te toa o te A' Design Award Rino, he whakaaetanga whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa pai e whakatutuki ana i ngā hiahia ngaio me te ahumahi e tūmanakohia ana mai i ngā mahi kua hoahoatia pai. Ko ngā toa Rino e whakaatu ana i te pukenga nui, te tohungatanga teitei, te māramatanga mātanga me te kaha auaha o ō rātou kaihanga. E tūmanakohia ana ko Itomachi Hotel 0 Hoahoa o Roto Hōtera he mahi whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he whaihua, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Rino e whakakotahi ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa o te ahumahi, ā, he āhuatanga hangarau pūkenga tōna e hono ana ki te mōhio me te pūmanawa. E whakahonoretia ana a Itomachi Hotel 0 Hoahoa o Roto Hōtera mō tōna tōtika, ā, i hoahoatia hei whakapai ake i te kounga o te oranga me te āwhina i te ao kia pai ake.

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.