SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE,
NOT A HOTEL TOJI
NOT
A HOTEL MINAKAMI TOJI is a complex of five houses and a restaurant located on
top of a mountain in Minakami, a hot spring town in Gunma Prefecture about two
hours from central Tokyo. Designed by SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE, a Japanese firm founded
by Makoto Tanijiri and Ai Yoshida, the architectural design of the five
buildings features roofs and facades covered with copper sheets, a contemporary
take on traditional Japanese mountain lodges.
Each house covers an area of about 252.28 m² and can accommodate up to eight people. On the first floor there are two bedrooms, a bathroom with a shower and a private parking space, while the second floor features a living/dining room, outdoor bathroom, sauna, wood stove and kitchen.
Water
is a key feature of the space: a 15-meter infinity pool surrounding the lounge connected
to the natural hot spring, cold water bath and sauna allow guests to enjoy the
stunning nature of Minakami, also known as the 'City of Water.'
Floor-to-ceiling sliding windows enhance the flow between indoors and outdoors
and give a real sense of living in harmony with the natural surroundings.
Located by the houses, Kigi is an exclusive restaurant for guests only. Based on the concept of 'fire and water,' it serves dinners and breakfasts cooked over a wood fire using local ingredients from the Minakami area.
Developed in Japan, NOT A HOTEL is a hybrid hospitality concept for something between a hotel and vacation home, promoting a non-standardised, rather homey vacation experience. Each property is sold on a timeshare basis allowing guests not only to book their unit for specific nights but also to swap these nights for stays at other properties as part of a network. Another key feature of the various properties is the uniqueness of their architectural idiom designed by some of the leading architects on the contemporary scene.
Project: SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE; Construction: Ishikawa/Numata joint venture; Business owner/seller: Open House Development Co.; Management company: NOT A HOTEL MANAGEMENT Co.; Photo: Kenta Hasegawa, Newcolor inc.
