sneak peek at BIG's residential project on remote japanese island NOT A HOTEL

NOT A HOTEL SETOUCHI in japan by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)

Startup hospitality brand NOT A HOTEL offers a glimpse into its upcoming residential project on Sagishima Island, crafted in collaboration with the Danish architectural firm, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). The resulting structure smoothly integrates into the island’s undulating topography, featuring a refined, curved layout that delicately embraces the natural contours of the verdant landscape. ‘Traditional Danish modern architecture is very informed by traditional Japanese architecture – the simplicity, the absence of ornament, in favor of careful and thoughtful detailing, the choice of quotidian materials, have all influenced this Danish idea of democratic design,’ notes the architect. This connection reflects a symbiotic relationship between the two cultures, with each influencing and inspiring the other; an aspect that is evident in the project.

all images by NOT A HOTEL

Bridging Cultures in Architecture

Renowned for iconic projects like the Google headquarters, Lego campus, and Noma 2.0 restaurant, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) brings its innovative touch to a vibrant corner of Japan, celebrated for its rich art and tourism scene. The island’s landscape, characterized as a ‘dense and dramatic archipelago,’ provides an intriguing canvas for the architect to work with. The collaboration between BIG (see more here) and NOT A HOTEL (see more here) holds the promise of an extraordinary outcome. Ingels expresses his anticipation, stating, ‘So far, the collaboration has been incredible, and I look forward to spending my first night in the results of our collaboration.’

Sagishima’s picturesque landscape sets the stage for NOT A HOTEL’s upcoming project

NOT A HOTEL presents its properties as vacation villas for rent, emphasizing a shift away from traditional hotel stays. They point out that the average second home owner typically spends around twenty days per year at their holiday residence. With a focus on minimizing waste, Not a Hotel designs its villas for shared usage among members, adopting a model similar to time-sharing. Previous projects include Sou Fujimoto’s undulating green villa on Okinawa’s Ishigaki Island, as well as Masterpiece, a steel residential project designed by the Suppose Design Office.

an infinitive pool melds with Sagishima’s archipelago