NOT A HOTEL has unveiled its first two hotel brands. While HERITAGE by NOT A HOTEL revisits architectural heritage such as temples and museums through a contemporary lens, vertex by NOT A HOTEL focuses on design at the crossroads of architecture and technology.
The first vertex hotel will rise on the island of Okinawa and has been entrusted to Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA). The project continues the studio’s long-standing relationship with Japan, which began more than forty years ago and includes a series of internationally recognised pavilions, buildings and interior projects shaped by the country’s landscapes, urban culture, creative traditions and refined craftsmanship.
Render by Negativ
Set between the turquoise waters and white sand beaches of Okinawa’s bay and the steep forested terrain behind, the hotel is carefully embedded within its 25,322-square-metre site to limit environmental disturbance. The layout ensures uninterrupted ocean views and privacy for each villa, while offering guests and residents facilities and amenities of the highest standard.
Environmental protection has been a central driver of the design. From architectural and engineering choices to site strategy, material selection, procurement and bespoke construction methods, every aspect of the project has been developed to preserve the island’s distinctive coastal and marine ecosystems and to minimise ecological impact.
Render by Negativ
The architecture takes shape from the site’s Ryukyu limestone formations and the surrounding forest. Formed from Pleistocene coral reef sedimentary layers deposited around 400,000 years ago, this geology and the island’s humid microclimate support a dense subtropical rainforest along the coast. In response to strict requirements set by the forestry commission, marine conservationists and local authorities, ZHA’s design appears to ‘float’ above the landscape, positioned at the narrow threshold between forest and beach. This strategy significantly reduces the building footprint across the two ecosystems and helps safeguard biodiversity.
Conceived as a continuation of the site’s existing rock formations, the hotel follows the shoreline through a sequence of stepped horizontal terraces, courtyards and gardens that reflect the area’s varied topography. The building’s composition, orientation and material palette are the result of extensive site-specific studies. Year-round data on temperature, humidity, rainfall, prevailing winds, solar exposure, air quality, and daily ground and sea conditions were used to develop comprehensive digital models. These informed the project’s refinement to enhance guest comfort, maximise ocean views and optimise environmental performance within Okinawa’s humid subtropical climate.
Render by Negativ
A year-long study of daily solar irradiation guided the design of the hotel’s distinctive canopies. Extending from the structure, they form a series of sheltered terraces that step down towards the shoreline, echoing the site’s natural contours. Interpreted through a contemporary language, the deep overhangs recall the pronounced eaves of Okinawa’s traditional vernacular architecture, creating shaded outdoor living spaces and circulation paths.
The project also draws on Okinawa’s long tradition of craftsmanship. Finely carved Okinawa pine, limestone sourced from local quarries, and ceramics produced in nearby workshops anchor the hotel to its landscape and reinforce the island’s cultural heritage.
Designed to harness the prevailing Kāchibē winds that blow inland during the humid summer months, the architecture encourages natural ventilation throughout communal spaces, guest rooms, suites and villas. Located within the Pacific Ocean’s East Monsoon system, the structure elevates all facilities at least 6.5 metres above the high-water line and is engineered to withstand strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surges associated with summer typhoons. Advanced structural solutions are also incorporated to address seismic risks along the island’s coastline.
Render by Negativ
To further reduce environmental impact during construction and operation, the hotel adopts a modular structural and façade system made from precisely prefabricated components. Finished with tones and textures that recall the fine white sands of Okinawa’s coral beaches, these elements reflect a circular construction approach, incorporating recycled aggregates sourced from redundant local structures that have reached the end of their lifecycle.
As Ludovico Lombardi, ZHA Project Director, explains: “Informed by the site’s remarkable topography, the design is a continuation of ZHA’s ongoing research of composition and materiality that is driven by explorations of landscape formations evident in nature. The stepped canopies of the hotel gently transition from the unique geology of the shoreline to the dense vegetation of the rain forest—giving uninterrupted views of the ocean and a deep connection to the surrounding environment, while providing a sense of privacy that enriches user experience and charts a journey through the varied natural ecosystems of the region.”
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Cover image: Render by Negativ
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