Location: Yakushima, Japan
Program: Hospitality
Status: Competition
Year: 2025
The project draws on vernacular and contemporary Japanese architectural traditions, referencing the kominka typology and responding closely to the natural and cultural context of Yakushima Island. Set within a landscape of ancient forests and water, the building is conceived to coexist harmoniously with its surroundings, encouraging a calm and introspective mode of living. The massing is inspired by tatami layout systems, specifically the yojōhan configuration, and is articulated as four volumes organised around a central courtyard garden that introduces daylight, ventilation, and seasonal awareness. Spaces expand and contract to create a rhythmic sequence, while circulation follows a gentle, meandering route inspired by Japanese gardens. The programme integrates private, communal, and wellness spaces as interconnected environments. Interior materiality combines timber, rammed earth, stone, and metal elements, incorporating retained landscape features.