Danielle Demetriou is a British writer and editor who moved from London to Japan in 2007. She writes about design, architecture and culture (for newspapers, magazines and books) and lives in an old machiya townhouse in Kyoto.
The idea of evoking the atmosphere of a private residence lies at the core of architect Kengo Kuma’s latest hotel project, The Tokyo Edition Ginza – which he likens to a Japanese home, ‘warm, intimate and spiritual’. The new hotel flows through a 14-level structure on a quiet corner spot in the Ginza district, mixing a material warmth and a minimalist simplicity with edgy Edition touches in a network of intimate spaces., and chapter two for its Japan journey.
‘I wanted to show some randomness – it’s not an industrial product, it’s handwoven,’ notes Kuma. ‘Fabric used to be in an important business in Ginza, so we thought the woven image would fit well. We wanted to show our respect for the cultural context of Ginza.
‘Koshi is the vocabulary for Japanese private homes,’ says Kuma. ‘Koshi can also represent different types of shops – shops selling cakes have a different koshi pattern in contrast to shops selling fabrics. In Ginza, the type of koshi is crucial.’The weaving theme continues in the plaited leather-wrapped handrails in the lifts. Minimalist yet warm, the rooms are wrapped in walnut panelling alongside crisp ivory textiles, travertine tables, cream leather, and white faux fur throws.
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inboxDanielle Demetriou is a British writer and editor who moved from London to Japan in 2007. She writes about design, architecture and culture and lives in an old machiya townhouse in Kyoto.