Sølv Gjestfrihet · 2026
Oott Primary Function: Hoteller
by Toru Teraoka
- A' Design Award i Sølv 2026 in Gjestfrihet
- CLIENT: OOTT | Toru Teraoka
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 24,566
- Verification code AA31C16378 · Verify this award
Colors
About Oott Primary Function: Hoteller
Book Text: Denne hallen ligger i skogene i Karuizawa og er tenkt som et sted der arkitektur, natur og fellesskap møtes. Utviklet over nesten et tiår gjennom samarbeid mellom oppdragsgiver, byggmester og arkitekt, utgjør den en del av et landskap i utvikling med hundevennlige fasiliteter. Bygningen fungerer som en felles lounge og innendørs treningsrom. Når de store åpningene åpnes, samsvarer interiøret med skogen og lar landskapet strømme gjennom. Et lagdelt tak slipper inn mykt dagslys og skaper en rolig atmosfære. Den enkle trekonstruksjonen viser hvordan beskjedne midler kan integreres med naturen.
About the A' Design Award i Sølv
Oott Primary Function: Hoteller er vinner av A' Design Award i Sølv, en usedvanlig prestisjefylt anerkjennelse som tildeles design i toppklassen som er nydelige og imponerende. Sølvvinnere er enormt briljante og usedvanlig kreative verk som viser designernes enestående ekspertise, talent og skarpsindighet. Oott Primary Function: Hoteller forventes å være et praktfullt utstillingsverk som er bemerkelsesverdig profesjonelt og dypt nyskapende. Dette designet, som har vunnet A' Design Award i Sølv, er en svært bemerkelsesverdig, beundret oppfinnelse som gagner og flytter grensene for kunst, vitenskap, design og teknologi. Oott Primary Function: Hoteller er et skaperverk mange misunner, som vekker ønsker, gir positive følelser og vekker undring og forundring.
Press Kit
- 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
- Image Credits
- All photo : Photographer / Tatsuya Tabii
