Hoshinoya Karuizawa
Hoshino Resorts is one of the largest operators of resorts and hotels in Japan with over 100 years of history. HOSHINOYA is to be a flagship hotel within the vast resort area introducing a new style of vacation based on the Japanese hospitality to take a lead of next hundred years to come. In order to achieve these objectives we developed the design quality of architecture and landscape, whilst focusing on the use of natural energies and environmental protection.
Cover photo
The initial image, which rose during the conceptualization of the valley, was of a small village with modern yet nostalgic landscape scenery. Therefore, residential houses were the fundamental structural element, the scale of guesthouses and other building structures were reduced to individual units. The guest-houses on the slope were terraced to respect the existing landform of the valley. In sections, the floor of each unit is shifted so the view from the house opens up beyond the roof of the units below. The harmony between large scale view of the valley itself and small scenes such as gardens or paths which emerged from daily activities, represent the fundamental balance of village landscapes.
Water Feature
In the center of building cluster lies a retention pond used for power generation for a hundred years. This scenic pond acts as a medium that effectively unites various elements in the valley. From the large pond, some water is delivered to the terraced garden which lies just beside the pond. Water provided at 0.02t/sec. is the only additional natural feature in the garden. Every single tree, grasses and sloping landform are here for years in the history of the resort, and was just a bush nobody ever paid attention nor even realized their existence. The minimum action to bring the water into the top of slope and the minimum control of them to follow the landform and gravity, was intended to lead the neglected nature into a new landscape.
Furnishing Public Spaces
“Tsudoi Main Building” becomes the visitors’ living and dining room during their stay. The original landform was integrated into tiered floor of the dining room, which reflects the terraced garden with cascades outside. “Meditation Bath” inspired us to try installing something new. In the new bathing area, two rooms are in contrast of the light and the dark while they are connected with one body of hot spring water. It provides an atmosphere for the bathing guests to meditate and to feel the light and dark as two opposite elements.
Guest Rooms
In contrast to guest rooms in Japanese traditional hotels, our intention was to achieve guest rooms that offer more than merely a “place to sleep”, and there had been long discussions on type of comfort visitors seek in resorts. Every single place on the site, exterior or interior, was designed as a place to stay and we paid great attention on spatial sequences. The circulation plan was carefully planned out in order to benefit changing views from small paths, the visual transition from closed woods to open water, systematized topography, small peeks, and variety of routing systems and smaller pathways. Everything was laid out to relieve people from life’s stress by strolling and looking at great but cozy landscape from the balcony.
Teamwork
We strived to achieve the landscape that would not exist any other place, by concentrating unique elements and natural characteristic of the valley, and also by avoiding the appearance of typical resort. The client, the architect, and the landscape architect had worked together to achieve this goal, and our hope is that Hoshino Resorts (and HOSHINOYA) grows into a place with respect to the attractions and the charms to be accumulated in the future.
