DESIGN
THE RITZ-CARLTON, KYOTO The building’s height was restricted, so two fl oors have been built underground. The spa is situated on the lower basement level
H
ome to 17 World Heritage sites and acknowledged as Japan’s cultural centre, Kyoto was an historical home to
aristocrats and nobles who resided on the banks of the Kamogawa River, developing customs and crafts that remain cornerstones of national identity today. For this reason, the city’s authorities guard against overdevelopment through stringent planning regulations. Against this backdrop, The Ritz-Carlton and property developer Sekisui House were granted permission to open Kyoto’s first internationally branded, luxury urban
resort, on a site facing the Higashiyama mountain range. But for Remedios Studio, charged with designing the interiors (excluding restaurants), the location presented two big challenges. “Firstly, Kyoto has a height moratorium, which keeps ceiling heights restricted,” says principal and managing director Peter Remedios. “While I’ve always loved Japanese culture, there was also the question of whether a foreigner could understand the concept of miyabi (delicate refinement) that defines this destination.” Of The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto’s seven
storeys, two have been constructed below
Peter Remedios (above) mastered the Japanese concept of miyabi (delicate refi nement) in his spa design (left)
the river’s levee, in effect opening up space by designing downwards. Turning to traditional machiya townhouses as inspiration, the building’s architectural structure incorporates outer and inner landscaping that draw nature down to the two basement levels. Remedios, who has over 20 years’ experience in hospitality design with offices in Hong Kong and California, has turned the architectural realities to his advantage in more ways than one. “With my team, which includes
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spabusiness.com issue 2 2015 ©CYBERTREK 2015
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