NOT A HOTEL×Tadao Ando | Tadao Ando Architect & Associates

A new NOT A HOTEL villa in Japan will be designed by Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, headed by the world-renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Situated along the coast of the Kinki region, this villa features a distinctive circular roof and an organically shaped reflecting pool. Ando’s signature use of concrete—a medium he has explored throughout his career—creates a geometric landscape through the intricate interplay of straight lines and curves. The result is a sublime architectural experience born from the fusion of a minimalist yet substantial spatial design, the shifting play of light and shadow across the hours and seasons, and a dynamic balance between harmony with and contrast against the natural environment.

Concept 

The site is nestled in the rich natural surroundings of a peninsula overlooking the sea. Facing this magnificent view, we contemplate a relationship between people and nature—one unique to this location—that exists somewhere between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Five villas cling to the slope. While adhering to a strict grid-like order, they shift in elevation to match the terrain, seamlessly blending into the landscape of forest and sea. Situated at the tip of the peninsula across the bay, the villa features a circular form that seems to open out toward the waters below.

A circle that embraces the boundless seascape, with a lacuna at its center opening to the sky. Light, wind, and the presence of the sea permeate both the interior and exterior spaces. A glance outward reveals a landscape of water and greenery filling one's field of vision. The boundary between the man-made and the natural dissolves into the seascape stretching toward the horizon.

Here, the day begins with the morning glow, time drifts with the breeze crossing the sea, and the day quietly fades away with the sunset. Our aim was not merely to create architecture for viewing the sea. We sought to craft a place where one lives in harmony with the ocean—a space where spiritual richness comes to life.

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"The peninsula’s landscape is beautiful, yet fierce. How do we create architecture that can hold its own against such power? It is a truly difficult task. Yet, it is a challenge that stirs the spirit."
Mr. Tadao Ando