Cover Bjarke Ingels Group’s Not A Hotel Setouchi is tailored to Sagishima’s unique landscape
Bjarke Ingels Group’s Not A Hotel Setouchi is tailored to Sagishima’s unique landscape
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Bjarke Ingels Group’s Not A Hotel property builds on the Danish desire for simplicity and the care and perfection of Japan
When Japan opened its borders to international travellers in the 19th century, an instant kinship in design sensibilities was formed between the Scandinavians and the Japanese.
The clean lines, muted colour palettes and functional elegance of Japanese design resonated deeply with the Scandinavian designers, mirroring their own pared-down, nature-inspired approach to creating spaces that prioritise comfort, warmth, and a sense of tranquillity.
Such cross-pollination of ideas and influences between the two design traditions culminate in Not A Hotel’s upcoming property designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
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Above Located on the remote Sagi Island in the Setouchi region
Located on the remote Sagi Island in the Setouchi region
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“Japan is one of the cultures in the world where commitment to craft and care for quality remains intact,” remarks Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG. “The honesty and simplicity of the structure and careful choice of materials can be said to have greatly influenced the traditional architecture of Japan and the modern architecture of Denmark. Maybe that’s why when I go to Japan, I always feel like I'm coming home.”
He adds: “Not A Hotel Setouchi will be an experiment in what happens when the sensibilities of both countries come together–the Danish desire for simplicity and the care and perfection of Japan.”
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Above The restaurant and three villas are angled at 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, and 360 degrees
The restaurant and three villas are angled at 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, and 360 degrees
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Located on the remote island of Sagishima in Japan’s Setouchi region, Not A Hotel Setouchi includes a restaurant and three villas on the 30,000 sqm site, building on the longstanding dialogue between Scandinavian and Japanese design values.
These three- and four-bedroom villas recall the design of traditional Japanese single-storey houses, with essential elements of the homes reimagined for modern-day use with the incorporation of materials local to Japan.
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The circular 360 villa perched at the highest altitude
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The roofs feature solar tiles covered on all sides, mimicking traditional Japanese roofs in a technological and modern interpretation.
These elevated roofs are also built to collect rainwater for landscaping irrigation, promoting passive cooling during spring and summer via the operable façades and overhangs.
The load bearing clay walls are constructed using soil sourced on-site, and a traditional rammed earth technique to achieve the curved forms.
The glass façades of the villas are a modern interpretation of shoji screens, blurring the line between the lush nature outside and the interior with calming colour palettes and Genshoseki natural slate floors with patterns inspired by traditional tatami mats.
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Above Solar-tiled roofs for landscaping irrigation provide openness and privacy
Solar-tiled roofs for landscaping irrigation provide openness and privacy
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Not A Hotel Setouchi is tailored to Sagishima’s unique landscape characterised by beautiful undulating silhouettes of mountainous islands, while accentuating the panoramic views of the surrounding southwestern cape mountains and Seto Inland Sea.
The restaurant and three villas are angled at 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, and 360 degrees, each named according to its distinct design characteristics that fit into its specific location onsite.
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Above The curved forms are achieved using a traditional rammed earth technique
Above Load bearing clay walls constructed using soil sourced on-site
The curved forms are achieved using a traditional rammed earth technique
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The circular 360 villa, perched at the highest altitude, offers literal 360-degree views of Setouchi’s land and seascape, with a central courtyard for privacy.
Meanwhile, the 270 villa has a 270-degree perspective of the surrounding archipelago, alongside bathing spaces arranged like floating islands around the pool next to the sauna and an open fire pit.
Finally, the 180 villa at the peninsula’s tip features curvature that follows the coastal landscape, its inner courtyard with gentle slopes, mossy pathways and trees change colours according to the seasons.
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The angled villas accentuate the panoramic views
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Above Genshoseki natural slate floors inspired by tatami mats
Above Tranquil amidst the surrounding mountains and sea
Genshoseki natural slate floors inspired by tatami mats
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Bathrooms and storage rooms are consolidated into separate “pods,” in which the more private ones are fitted with skylights to balance openness with privacy.
On top of that, Not A Hotel Setouchi prioritises restoration of the undulating landscape: grass will be harvested before construction begins, and native vegetation like olive trees and lemon trees will be reintroduced as part of the property’s seamless correlation with Sagi Island’s natural beauty.
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Above Private areas are consolidated into separate "pods"
Above A skylight to balance openness with privacy
Private areas are consolidated into separate "pods"
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“Our design approach for Not A Hotel Setouchi wasn’t about imposing our ideas on the site; instead, it involved exploring, observing and understanding the landscape,” explains Ingels.
“We envisioned how to best leverage this distinctive and remarkable terrain and fixed upon a design that mirrors the elegance of traditional Japanese architecture.”
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Above Each villa has an open firepit in the courtyard underneath the stars
Each villa has an open firepit in the courtyard underneath the stars
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Scheduled to break ground later this year, with a launch date slated in 2026, Not A Hotel Setouchi will soon open for sale on its official website, expanding on the luxury hotelier’s existing six luxury vacation homes across Japan that run on a shared ownership model for interested parties to rent or own.
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Credits
Photography: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)
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Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
