Review: Renovated Cultural Properties and Modern Architecture Become Timeless Inns
This architectural review by Taro Igarashi highlights the trend of converting historically significant buildings into modern accommodations, emphasizing the preservation of cultural heritage through adaptive reuse. The article focuses on two key projects by Hoshino Resorts in Japan. First, it mentions the upcoming June opening of HOSHINOYA Nara Prison, a hotel converted from a red-brick prison built in 1908 and designated as an Important Cultural Property. Second, it details the April 21 opening of OMO7 Yokohama, part of the BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai redevelopment. This hotel occupies the former Yokohama City Hall administrative building, a 1959 masterpiece by architect Togo Murano. The renovation, led by Takenaka Corporation and Naruse Inokuma Architectural Design Office, retains the building's distinctive checkered exterior while updating the interior. Key design elements such as colors, tiles, and the grand staircase were preserved or relocated to maintain the original aesthetic. The review praises this approach for smoothly connecting old and new, creating a classic atmosphere rather than strict preservation, and notes the successful utilization of previous seismic isolation work.
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Review: Renovated Cultural Properties and Modern Architecture Become Timeless Inns
This architectural review by Taro Igarashi highlights the trend of converting historically significant buildings into modern accommodations, emphasizing the preservation of cultural heritage through adaptive reuse. The article focuses on two key projects by Hoshino Resorts in Japan. First, it mentions the upcoming June opening of HOSHINOYA Nara Prison, a hotel converted from a red-brick prison built in 1908 and designated as an Important Cultural Property. Second, it details the April 21 opening of OMO7 Yokohama, part of the BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai redevelopment. This hotel occupies the former Yokohama City Hall administrative building, a 1959 masterpiece by architect Togo Murano. The renovation, led by Takenaka Corporation and Naruse Inokuma Architectural Design Office, retains the building's distinctive checkered exterior while updating the interior. Key design elements such as colors, tiles, and the grand staircase were preserved or relocated to maintain the original aesthetic. The review praises this approach for smoothly connecting old and new, creating a classic atmosphere rather than strict preservation, and notes the successful utilization of previous seismic isolation work.
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