Dogo Miyu | a luxury hot spring resort | Matsuyama
Architecture Hospitality Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
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1. Dogo Miyu / exterior view The building is covered with horizontally segmented wood-patterned aluminum louvers from the third floor and above on two sides. The layers of louvers intentionally shift in height along the vertical axis, giving an impression of reaching toward the sky while mitigating the massiveness of the monolithic volume. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 3 MB Print - Low res only |
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2. Dogo Miyu / facade details The louvers are arranged like undulating screens, creating a stunning night view with upward indirect lighting placed on each layer." Ryuji Shiraishi 5850 px 3907 px 24 MB A3 print |
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3. Dogo Miyu / facade details The louvers are arranged like undulating screens, creating a stunning night view with upward indirect lighting placed on each layer." Ryuji Shiraishi 3662 px 5486 px 20 MB A3 print |
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4. Dogo Miyu / Lobby/Reception The reception/lobby is carefully designed to emphasize horizontality to give an intimate touch instead of surprise. Natural light screened by the trees flowing through large openings gives a delicate gradation of lights and shadows, shifting the ambiance along seasons and time. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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5. Dogo Miyu / Lobby The lobby/lounge is designed as one continuous space without partitions, creating a seamless flow. The levels and materials of the ceilings and floors are carefully arranged to ambiguously differentiate the space while avoiding monotonousness, Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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6. Dogo Miyu / Library Llounge Looking at the stone garden through the low horizontal opening at the library lounge. Lights (both natural and artificial) and openings are carefully treated to give a joyful sense of small discovery in ordinary life. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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7. Dogo Miyu / View of the small garden from the lobby The small garden in front of the lobby is intentionally designed to reflect the natural landscape of a Satoyama (natural vegetation and micro-topography connected to a rural community in the mountain) rather than a meticulously arranged Japanese garden, providing a soothing environment for guests. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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8. Dogo Miyu / Library Lounge The library lounge is carefully crafted to evoke the ambiance of a private reading room. The minimal openings, a slightly lowered floor level, and dark-toned materials are combined to create a sense of descending into the ground. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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9. Dogo Miyu / Library Lounge The large coffee table made from reclaimed wood, steel, and mortar-like plaster was designed and crafted specifically crafted by the architect for this hotel. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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10. Dogo Miyu / Dining "Tachibana" on the 2nd floor The exclusive dining venue for hotel guests, "Tachibana," located on the second floor, is designed as a tranquil space with black-themed decor and subtle ambient lighting, allowing the beauty of each meticulously prepared dish by top-notch Japanese chefs to shine. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 969 KB Print - Low res only |
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11. Dogo Miyu / Dining "Tachibana" on the 2nd floor The atmosphere is carefully crafted to ensure that it doesn't disrupt the flow of time spent by guests with their loved ones. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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12. Dogo Miyu / Dining "Tachibana" on the 2nd floor All the artworks scattered throughout the building were created simultaneously with the architecture by selected local artists. They are thoughtfully placed to determine the ambiance of the space without overpowering it as mere decorations. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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13. Dogo Miyu / Dining "Tachibana" on the 2nd floor A slight glimpse of the garden trees through the horizontal opening of the shoji screen - the careful design consideration results in a non-intrusive, natural manner, allowing guests to appreciate the beauty of nature in ordinary life. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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14. Dogo Miyu / Sky lounge on the 8th floor The top-floor lounge and its adjacent terrace offer a panoramic view of Matsuyama's castle town. The decorative panels covering the wall on the left are made from recycled scrap materials from a local ironwork factory. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 2 MB Print - Low res only |
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15. Dogo Miyu / Guest room The guest rooms feature a serene color palette achieved through monochrome tones and wooden accents, creating a minimalist design that evokes a sense of "wa" without conventional Japanese decorations. Each room is thoughtfully designed with unique themes, colors, and furniture, allowing individuality across different floors and types. Additionally, guests can enjoy exclusive amenities such as private open-air baths and spacious balconies with a view of Matsuyama Castle. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 885 KB Print - Low res only |
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16. Dogo Miyu / Guest room The guest rooms feature a serene color palette achieved through monochrome tones and wooden accents, creating a minimalist design that evokes a sense of "wa" without conventional Japanese decorations. Each room is thoughtfully designed with unique themes, colors, and furniture, allowing individuality across different floors and types. Additionally, guests can enjoy exclusive amenities such as private open-air baths and spacious balconies with a view of Matsuyama Castle. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1011 KB Print - Low res only |
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17. Dogo Miyu / Guest room The guest rooms feature a serene color palette achieved through monochrome tones and wooden accents, creating a minimalist design that evokes a sense of "wa" without conventional Japanese decorations. Each room is thoughtfully designed with unique themes, colors, and furniture, allowing individuality across different floors and types. Additionally, guests can enjoy exclusive amenities such as private open-air baths and spacious balconies with a view of Matsuyama Castle. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1002 KB Print - Low res only |
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18. Dogo Miyu / Guest room The guest rooms feature a serene color palette achieved through monochrome tones and wooden accents, creating a minimalist design that evokes a sense of "wa" without conventional Japanese decorations. Each room is thoughtfully designed with unique themes, colors, and furniture, allowing individuality across different floors and types. Additionally, guests can enjoy exclusive amenities such as private open-air baths and spacious balconies with a view of Matsuyama Castle. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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19. Dogo Miyu / Guest room number plate, made of local roofing tile called "Kikuma-Kawara" The guest room signs feature local craftsmanship using "Kikuma-gawara"（traditional roof clay tiles） with intricate embossed patterns. Created by skilled artisans, they are arranged in unique geometric patterns in different combinations designed for individual rooms. Ryuji Shiraishi 1282 px 1920 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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20. Dogo Miyu / Guest room The guest rooms feature a serene color palette achieved through monochrome tones and wooden accents, creating a minimalist design that evokes a sense of "wa" without conventional Japanese decorations. Each room is thoughtfully designed with unique themes, colors, and furniture, allowing individuality across different floors and types. Additionally, guests can enjoy exclusive amenities such as private open-air baths and spacious balconies with a view of Matsuyama Castle. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1275 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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21. Dogo Miyu / Guest room The guest rooms feature a serene color palette achieved through monochrome tones and wooden accents, creating a minimalist design that evokes a sense of "wa" without conventional Japanese decorations. Each room is thoughtfully designed with unique themes, colors, and furniture, allowing individuality across different floors and types. Additionally, guests can enjoy exclusive amenities such as private open-air baths and spacious balconies with a view of Matsuyama Castle. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 887 KB Print - Low res only |
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22. Dogo Miyu / Guest room The guest rooms feature a serene color palette achieved through monochrome tones and wooden accents, creating a minimalist design that evokes a sense of "wa" without conventional Japanese decorations. Each room is thoughtfully designed with unique themes, colors, and furniture, allowing individuality across different floors and types. Additionally, guests can enjoy exclusive amenities such as private open-air baths and spacious balconies with a view of Matsuyama Castle. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 763 KB Print - Low res only |
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23. Dogo Miyu / Guest room detail The guest rooms feature a serene color palette achieved through monochrome tones and wooden accents, creating a minimalist design that evokes a sense of "wa" without conventional Japanese decorations. Each room is thoughtfully designed with unique themes, colors, and furniture, allowing individuality across different floors and types. Additionally, guests can enjoy exclusive amenities such as private open-air baths and spacious balconies with a view of Matsuyama Castle. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 901 KB Print - Low res only |
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24. Dogo Miyu / Guest room, private outdoor hot spring bath All guest rooms are equipped with spacious private semi-open-air baths, allowing guests to fully indulge in the hot springs of Dogo in their own private space. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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25. Dogo Miyu / Powder room in a guest room Instead of standard waterproof materials such as tiles or decorative panels, the wall of the powder room and the shower room are covered by Mortex (a waterproof plaster material produced by BEAL international), creating a space with subtle textures and shades in a minimalist style. Ryuji Shiraishi 1920 px 1282 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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26. Dogo Miyu / Site plan & 1st floor plan Shingo Tsuji 4500 px 3154 px 2 MB A4 print |
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27. Dogo Miyu / Floor plans 2F-8F Shingo Tsuji 4500 px 3154 px 653 KB A4 print |
Description
Located on the hill of Dogo Onsen, one of Japan's oldest and most renowned hot spring areas, Dogo Miyu is a luxurious hotel with 30 guest rooms. The contemporary hot spring resort was designed to offer a serene and private retreat, providing a haven of relaxation away from the daily hustle and bustle. Each guest room has its own open-air hot spring bath, allowing visitors to indulge in a soothing soak within their personal space.
As a prominent entrepreneur owning and operating three hotels in the area, the client sought to differentiate Dogo Miyu from the other two hotels for a drastic restructuring of his business. Aiming to appeal to discerning clientele seeking upscale services and exceptional accommodation experiences, he entrusted the architects with the project's design and management. In addition, as one of the leaders of the area's community development, the client also emphasized the importance of contributing to enhancing the neighborhood's landscape (which was too urbanized and not pedestrian friendly from his view) and creating an atmosphere that would inspire visitors to stroll the streets in Yukata (i.e., casual kimono), to which the architects responded by paying due attention to the exterior and landscaping design.
The architect drew inspiration from traditional Japanese tea rooms, often mentioned as one of the prototypes of Japanese spatial design, and reinterpreted it through a minimalist lens. The design philosophy focused on creating an environment allowing guests to unwind and alleviate everyday fatigue without being distracted by unnecessary sensory stimuli. The architect believed that the essence of "healing" lies not solely in the physical presence of the building itself but in the harmonious integration of space and service. The leading part - the architect says - should be played by such elements as the ever-changing presence of seasonal flowers, the infinite gradations of natural light, the subtle flavor of delicately cooked dishes, and the preciousness of the time spent together with one's partners, families and friends, etc. "Healing" is about restoring one's delicate sensitivity to things like those, and the role of architecture, in the architects' belief, is to create an almost transparent yet definitive atmospheric background to such experience.
Since its opening in 2018, Dogo Miyu has maintained a high occupancy rate, even amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to attract attention from travel enthusiasts and the tourism industry both domestically and internationally.
Questions and Answers
What are the characteristics of the project's neighborhood?
Dogo Onsen is one of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts, whose history dates back to 1,500 years ago. Among its many tourist resources, the most famous and iconic is Dogo Onsen Honkan, which is said to have been one of the inspirations for the bathhouse in Studio Ghibli's film "Spirited Away."
With over 120 years of history, the architecture of Dogo Onsen Honkan impresses visitors with its unique yet intricate combination of various Japanese architectural styles. The building continues to amaze people with its unchanged hot spring blessings, providing healing and relaxation to locals and tourists worldwide.
Furthermore, Matsuyama/Ehime, where the Dogo area is located, is blessed with rich historical and natural resources. The region attracts many tourists with its warm hospitality culture and unique culinary traditions throughout history up to today.
*See https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5502.html for more details.
Who is the primary target user group of the project?
Dogo Miyu, with its concept of a "modern therapeutic inn," targets a user base that values spending relaxed and private time in a serene hot spring inn, away from the daily busyness and noise, rather than rushing to visit various tourist attractions one after another. Despite its slightly higher pricing compared to competing facilities in the area, Dogo Miyu has received high praise since its opening for its tranquil atmosphere and unpretentious, natural hospitality services. It has consistently ranked among the top in accommodation rankings by numerous media outlets, earning the love and admiration of many users.
What was the brief?
Opened in early summer 2018, Dogo Miyu is a luxurious hotel built on the hill of Dogo Onsen, known as one of Japan's oldest hot spring areas. With its 8-story building and 30 rooms, this tranquil retreat offers a tranquil private escape away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Each guest room provides an open-air hot spring bath, allowing visitors to enjoy a soothing soak in their private space. The hotel's design draws inspiration from the concept of traditional Japanese tea rooms, embracing a minimalist approach that prioritizes essential elements to create a space where guests can unwind and find respite from the noise and fatigue of everyday life without being annoyed by unnecessary perceptual noizes.
Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?
The client is an entrepreneur who owns and operates three hotels in Dogo Onsen, one of Japan's renowned hot spring destinations. He is also one of the leading figures in a local organization dedicated to the area's community development. As part of his long-term plan to differentiate his three properties, which previously catered to similar clientele with comparable services, the client envisioned Dogo Miyu appealing to a discerning demographic seeking exceptional services and accommodation experiences, even at a relatively higher price point. Furthermore, as a leader in community development, he emphasized the project's importance in significantly enhancing the hot spring resort's landscape. For this goal, he requested the architects to give due attention to the design of the exterior and surroundings.
What were the key challenges?
The primary design challenges include the following:
- Providing a comprehensive solution for a "modern hot spring resort" within the constraints of a limited budget and utilizing readily available materials.
- Establishing a refined ambiance that would evoke a profound sense of well-being, transcending mere visual opulence and engaging all the senses.
- Achieving a sense of luxury by streamlining the design and discarding superfluous elements rather than relying on conventional embellishments or motifs commonly associated with Japanese design. The objective was to cultivate an immersive encounter with the essence of Japanese spatial sensibility.
- Integrating considerations beyond the designer's purview, such as the hotel's management and daily hospitality services, and ensuring operational efficiency and maintenance convenience to ensure the project's financial viability and long-term sustainability.
What are the key design features?
The main design features are as follows:
-Facade louvers and lighting that create a delicate screen, evoking a refined contemporary Japanese aesthetic while softening the facelessness, rigidity, and imposing feel of the 30m-high cuboid building volume.
-The exterior and landscaping design reflects a natural landscape, resembling the vegetation of a Satoyama (undeveloped woodland settlement) rather than an artificially designed garden.
-Careful planning, material, and color selection, delicate consideration of shadows/lights, and detailed design to minimize unnecessary spatial noise, resulting in fluid spaces that feel more expansive than they actually are.
-Thoughtful design interventions to adapt traditional regional arts and crafts in a restrained manner as architectural elements instead of mere decorations.
-Each guest room is uniquely designed with subtle variations in design and furniture, allowing repeating customers to have a new experience with each visit, enhancing the individuality of the rooms and the sense of privacy.
What are the five keywords that represent the project?
- Hot spring resort
- Luxury accommodation
- Japanese minimalism
- Zen design
- Atmospheric design
Details
| Project size | 4072 m2 |
| Site size | 1622 m2 |
| Completion date | 2018 |
| Building levels | 9 |
Project team
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CHIASMA FACTORY | Chief Architect / Project Manager |
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NAOYA KUROSE ATELIER | Supporting Architect |
| YOHAKU Architects | Supporting Architect | |
| Umezawa Structural Engineers | Structural Engineering |