Sou Fujimoto completes EARTH, a circular, green-roofed villa that seems to sink into the landscape of Okinawa’s remote Ishigaki Island, Japan, for NOT A HOTEL (find designboom’s previous coverage here). Now open and fully booked before construction even ended, the project, announced in 2022, is the largest yet in the hospitality brand’s network. Conceived as an extension of the earth, the 1,500-square-meter retreat is nestled into a 10,000-square-meter coastal site. Its curved white form is barely visible from above, disappearing under a living roof that blends with the surrounding terrain.

Fujimoto, who recently served as Site Design Producer for Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, designs EARTH with a focus on continuity between inside and out, architecture and landscape, sea and sky. The villa’s bowl-shaped structure draws visitors inward, while still opening outward to the ocean horizon. At the heart of the plan lies a courtyard garden by landscape designer Taichi Saito, featuring an oasis-like water basin and a children’s pool. From the firepit to the roof garden, and the way the sauna captures refracted sunlight from the pool above, guests move between elements of nature and shelter with ease.

images courtesy of NOT A HOTEL

‘earth’ accommodates up to ten occupants in its four bedrooms

The architecture of EARTH centers around a shared living-dining space that looks out directly onto an infinity pool blending into the ocean beyond. Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto designed this front-row view for watching sunsets, listening to waves, or enjoying a dinner prepared by a private chef. Adjacent to the open-plan space is a series of four bedrooms that sleep up to ten guests, each framed by full-height, bezel-less glazing. One room opens directly to a view of the sea, with a shallow water basin flowing between room and horizon.

Underneath, the first floor features a sauna where natural light filters through the water above to create a cavern-like atmosphere, mimicking the experience of being underwater. Guests can step directly from the sauna into an outdoor bath or continue into a fully equipped gym with a punching bag, Smith machine, and cardio equipment. The bathroom continues the horizontal design language of the villa, where the low-profile tub appears to merge into the seascape, following the villa’s architectural motif of vanishing edges.

Sou Fujimoto completes EARTH, a circular, green-roofed villa that seems to sink into the landscape

a private villa surrounded by nature

Originally announced in August 2022, NOT A HOTEL ISHIGAKI ‘EARTH’ was fully sold out via fractional ownership during the construction phase. 

While the villa itself feels like an escape from the world, guests are also encouraged to explore Ishigaki’s natural and cultural offerings. Activities include a traditional ‘sabani’ sailing cruise at sunset, private dinners accompanied by live sanshin music, and even custom brewing experiences of Awamori, Okinawa’s native spirit, made using copper pot distillation methods at the nearby Ikehara Brewery. For food lovers, the villa also offers a range of curated dining experiences centered around local ingredients, from premium BBQ to family-style Okinawan home cooking, always emphasizing minimal processing and deep connection to place. Located just 11 minutes from New Ishigaki Airport, EARTH situates high-end architecture within reach of nature. 

the 1,500-square-meter retreat is nestled into a 10,000-square-meter coastal site

the villa’s bowl-shaped structure draws visitors inward

a series of four bedrooms sleep up to ten guests

a sauna where natural light filters through the water above

EARTH’s architecture focuses on continuity between inside and out

guests move between elements of nature and shelter with ease

the gym is fully equipped with a punching bag, Smith machine, and cardio gear

project info:

name: NOT A HOTEL ISHIGAKI ‘EARTH’ | @notahotel_official

architect: Sou Fujimoto Architects | @sou_fujimoto

location: Miyara 120-92, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

site area: 9,586 square meters

total built area: 1,489.13 square meters (including indoor space, terrace, pool, and water basin)

indoor area: 975.01 square meters

courtyard area: 2,066.07 square meters

construction: Maeda Toyo Construction Joint Venture

client / owner: NOT A HOTEL Co., Ltd.

operator: NOT A HOTEL MANAGEMENT Co., Ltd.

The post sou fujimoto’s circular green-roofed villa for NOT A HOTEL opens on ishigaki island, japan appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

NOT A HOTEL opens its Toji complex in Minakami, designed by Japanese studio Suppose Design Office. The boutique guest house rests at the summit of a mountain in Gunma Prefecture, where the ridgelines of Minakami open into uninterrupted sky. From this quiet vantage point, the new complex of five villas and a restaurant frames the passage of seasons in stillness — snow drapes the landscape in winter, cherry blossoms in spring, deep greens in summer, and ochre foliage in autumn. The project deepens the ongoing collaboration between the practice and NOT A HOTEL, bringing architectural clarity to a remote, water-rich site.

Wrapped in copper-plated facades, the lodges are defined by its sectional split across two levels, where private functions are grounded below, and communal gathering unfolds above. The bedrooms, bathrooms, and parking areas are held discreetly on the first floor, while the second opens outward — to the landscape and to the elements. A living room edged by water, a sauna lit by natural steam, and a dining space with panoramic glazing lend the feeling of being immersed in nature without surrendering to it. All five villas are designed to host up to eight guests in quiet retreat.

Toji NOT A HOTEL MINAKAMI is perched atop a mountain in Gunma Prefecture | images © Kenta Hasegawa

Copper-Clad Exteriors

Within the mountainous area of Minakami, NOT A HOTEL Toji reimagines the language of the Japanese mountain hut through contemporary detail. The roofs and exterior facades are finished in copper plating, giving each structure a subtle gleam that will darken and deepen with age. This material choice reinforces the idea of time as a design partner, an invitation to watch weather, oxidation, and season shape the project’s surface over years to come. The forms remain angular and understated, tapering into the surrounding forest without ornamental flourish.

The architects at Suppose Design Office organize the lodge‘s upper floor around water in its many forms: a fifteen-meter (fifty-foot) infinity pool, a natural onsen, a cold bath, and an adjacent sauna. This ring of elements encircles the living and dining space, dissolving boundaries between architecture and atmosphere. The flicker of light across the water, steam from the bath, and the play of firelight from the wood stove offer a textured sensory field. In the dining area, Noguchi’s Akari lamp and an eight-person table add sculptural presence without overpowering the quietude of the view.

Careful detailing blurs the edge between interior and exterior. Double-glazed glass doors slide open to welcome mountain air, while insulated materials and thermal zoning keep the pool, sauna, and baths distinct in temperature but unified in experience. The infinity pool’s 180-degree panorama offers guests an uninterrupted line of sight across the Minakami valley, deepening the feeling of openness throughout the villa.

Suppose Design Office frames the villas with copper facades that age over time

drawn from Minakami’s long-standing hot spring culture

NOT A HOTEL Toji draws on Minakami’s long-standing hot spring culture by embedding a natural onsen into the private bath area of each villa. Surrounded by black plaster walls and positioned to face the mountains, the bath provides a meditative pause in the daily cycle. A single door allows bathers to open the space to the outdoors or keep it enclosed, inviting flexibility with weather and mood.

The project includes a private sauna built to full scale, allowing for uninterrupted views of the adjacent cold bath and infinity pool. From the sauna, visual access to water and forest extends the atmosphere of relaxation. The space flows naturally into the living room, where guests can cool down or linger in the ambient warmth, continuing the experience beyond the expected rituals of bathing.

Bedrooms are located along the lower level, away from the more theatrical views, focusing instead on intimate scale and tactile quiet. The walls are finished in hand-applied plaster, with rectangular windows framing filtered light through the trees. Tatami flooring adds softness underfoot, and the two bedrooms accommodate up to eight people with minimal distraction. It’s a space for restoration, kept close to the ground.

a 15-meter infinity pool wraps around the living space with mountain reflections

the architecture blurs indoor and outdoor through sliding glass and panoramic views

hot spring baths and saunas are integrated into each villa with open access to nature

the dining area features Isamu Noguchi lighting and a view over the water’s edge

the site draws from Minakami’s rich water sources at the tone river headwaters

bedrooms are grounded in quiet textures with tatami floors and filtered forest light

project info:

name: NOT A HOTEL MINAKAMI | @notahotel_official

architect: Suppose Design Office | @supposedesignoffice

location: Minakami, Japan

photography: © Kenta Hasegawa | @kentahasegawa

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Unformed Design introduces Nature Within, a residence that embraces dramatic rock formations and forested terrain in its architectural concept. Set to break ground in 2026 in Kitakaruizawa, Japan, the project transforms the natural landscape into a fundamental part of the design. This approach earned Unformed Design first prize in the NOT A HOTEL international design competition for architects and creators under 40.

Rather than treating the rugged terrain as a challenge, Unformed Design embraces it as the foundation of their concept. The residence incorporates weathered rock formations as structural and aesthetic elements, leaving them in their original positions to preserve the integrity of the site. These rocks form the foundation and support key areas of the home, eliminating the need for artificial bases. Nature Within’s form follows the natural slope of the land with an imperfect elliptical form that mirrors the contours of the terrain. This organic geometry allows the structure to nestle into the site, giving the impression that it has emerged naturally from the earth. The pitched roof extends beyond the walls, forming sheltered outdoor spaces that transition into the landscape, while a rear terrace hugs the terrain to provide a private retreat immersed in nature.

images courtesy of Unformed Design and NOT A HOTEL

rock formations anchor the interior of nature within residence

Inside, the rocks become central to the layout by the Milan-based practice Unformed Design. Their raw, textured surfaces serve as partitions and visual focal points, grounding the architecture in its surroundings. These formations also act as load-bearing elements, reducing the need for conventional structural systems while connecting the residence to the land.

The lower facade features expansive glazing, framing views of the forest. In the open-plan living and dining area, the rocks anchor the space, while private areas, including bedrooms and a sauna, are positioned for intimacy. The result is a home with spaces that echo the sheltering quality of natural caves.

The material palette balances rugged textures with refined finishes. Dark wood clads walls and floors, while sleek industrial metal accents adorn the kitchen and fireplace. Large glass surfaces bring the forest and rock formations into the home, ensuring nature is ever-present. The thermal properties of the rocks also help regulate indoor temperatures, enhancing the energy efficiency of the NOT A HOTEL’S future property.

a residence that embraces rock formations and forested terrain in its architectural concept

set to break ground in 2026

the material palette balances rugged textures with refined finishes

the residence incorporates weathered rock formations as structural and aesthetic elements

large glass surfaces bring the forest and rock formations into the home

ensuring nature is ever-present

this organic geometry allows the structure to nestle into the site

project info:

name: Nature Within
architect: Unformed Design | @unformedesign
location: Kitakaruizawa, Japan

client: NOT A HOTEL | @notahotel_official

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

The post elliptical residence by unformed design for NOT A HOTEL rises from japan’s rocky hills appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Nestled amid a 20,000 square-meter forest in the Gunma Prefecture of Japan, NOT A HOTEL KITAKARUIZAWA IRORI has officially opened to guests this summer. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and high side lights, the retreat is an oasis of wood and glass; its name recalls the distinctive irori, a traditional Japanese sunken hearth, which is the centerpiece of this hidden property. It also houses two intimate bedrooms (with eight beds) and two bathrooms, alongside a living-dining area, all framing expansive views of the surrounding forest. 

all images © Kenta Hasegawa

recreating japan’s traditional sunken hearth

The central gathering space at NOT A HOTEL KITAKARUIZAWA IRORI welcomes intimate gatherings; guests can reserve private dinners featuring irori cuisine, complete with flickering flames and a backdrop of forest scenery. One of the two buildings is a pet-friendly model, featuring a dog run. Complementing the irori is a living-dining area, designed as an open, airy space within the retreat, extending to the terrace through floor-to-ceiling windows; the large dining table comfortably seats up to eight people. 

NOT A HOTEL KITAKARUIZAWA IRORI nestles amid a 20,000 sqm forest in Japan

meditative rooms and rejuvenating open-air baths

The bedrooms, meanwhile, are equipped with a spacious desk, creating a perfect setting for quiet contemplation or focused work. As for the bathrooms, the retreat has purpose built them for ultimate relaxation. Guests at NOT A HOTEL KITAKARUIZAWA IRORI can enjoy the stone bath carved from a large rock and brimming with rejuvenating natural hot spring waters. Open the doors, and the bathroom becomes a semi-open-air bath surrounded by forest. The bathing area also features a sauna, cold bath, and outdoor relaxation space.

a gathering space inspired by Japan’s traditional sunken hearth

The newly-opened Japanese retreat an be reached in either two ways. As a first option, guests are welcome to take a train from Tokyo to the Karuizawa Station, a duration of 75 minutes, and continue the rest of the journey by car, which takes about 35 minutes. Alternatively, they can drive non-stop from Tokyo and reach the location in 170 minutes. Booking are currently sold out for the summer period. 

an oasis of wood and glass

open the doors, and the bathroom becomes a semi-open-air bath

living-dining area

each bedroom features a study desk

framing scenic views of the forest

the bathing area also features a sauna, cold bath, and outdoor relaxation space.

project info:

name: NOT A HOTEL KITAKARUIZAWA IRORI | @notahotel_official

location: 2286-340 Hosohara, Oaza Omae, Tsumagoi Village, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture, Japan

photographer: Kenta Hasegawa | @kentahasegawa

built area: 326.02 sqm 

site area: 20,000 sqm

program: 8 beds, 2 bathrooms

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axonometric and NKS2 architects collaborate on NOT A HOTEL‘s latest project, introducing NOT A HOTEL FUKUOKA. The design for NOT A HOTEL FUKUOKA, located in a tranquil residential area, seeks to balance privacy with neighborhood connectivity. The hotel‘s concrete facade is enveloped in greenery, allowing it to blend with the surrounding landscape, while its tiered, smaller sections align with the scale of the narrow streets. This strategic use of lush vegetation and terraces creates a harmonious link between the hotel and its environment.

NOT A HOTEL FUKUOKA, positioned in central Fukuoka, Japan, offers a state-of-the-art, condominium-style experience, functioning as both a hotel and a vacation home. Part of a global brand, the hotel embraces the concept of ‘living like traveling,’ catering to modern lifestyles that merge the comforts of home with the convenience of hotel living. The design features eight distinct rooms, each tailored to different needs—ranging from workspaces with large desks to spaces designed for private dining experiences with a chef.

architecture blends into the cityscape | all images by Yashiro Photo Office unless stated otherwise

angled Terraces create a layered, cityscape-like structure

The architectural concept envisioned the hotel as a three-dimensional city, a stacked arrangement of diverse living spaces that harmonize with the neighborhood. The building’s facade is covered with greenery, and each room is surrounded by plants and terraces, offering a sense of seclusion. The building’s volumes recede gradually on each floor, carefully considering shadowing effects. These terraces are strategically angled and shielded to ensure privacy from the outside, resulting in a structure that resembles a small mountain or a layered cityscape. This design approach, followed by axonometric studio and NKS2 architects, ensures the hotel blends effortlessly with the nearby houses and the adjacent park, giving it an appearance of being an inherent part of the community.

axonometric and NKS2 architects collaborate on NOT A HOTEL FUKUOKA

NOT A HOTEL FUKUOKA’s concrete facade is cloaked in greenery, integrating with its surroundings

resembling a vertical city, stacked detached houses boast their own gardens | image by Yasutaka Kojima

the hotel’s design resembles a small mountain, blending naturally with nearby houses and the adjacent park

the hotel’s tiered sections align with the narrow streets, reflecting the scale of the neighborhood

the building’s volumes recede on each floor, carefully designed to consider shadow effects

terraces are angled and shielded to maintain privacy, creating a layered, cityscape-like structure

project info:

name: NOT A HOTEL FUKUOKA
architects: axonometric – NKS2 architects

client: NOT A HOTEL | @notahotel_official

location: Fukuoka City, Japan

photography: Yashiro Photo Office – Yasutaka Kojima

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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For its first residence in the Tokyo area, hospitality group NOT A HOTEL joined forces with Japanese creative director NIGO to curate the entire living experience, from the overall concept to the smallest details. The house is tucked into a cliff top overlooking the ocean off of Tokyo Bay, with a direct view of Mt. Fuji from the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Located on the coast of Futtsu, Chiba, the home is around 45 minutes from Haneda Airport and one hour by car from Tokyo Station. Owners drive straight into the house through a tunnel. 

all images courtesy NOT A HOTEL

THE INFLUENCE OF NIGO ON GLOBAL CULTURE

From fashion to music, beverage, retail, and design, NIGO’s influence on global culture in the last three decades has been nothing short of massive. He founded his own clothing brand in 1993, which gained immense popularity around the world and laid the foundation for the street fashion scene that continues to this day. In 2010, he launched a new brand, HUMAN MADE. From 2020 to 2021, the fashion icon presented two collections with LOUIS VUITTON. In September 2021, he was appointed artistic director of the Parisian fashion brand KENZO. Working with similar word-class creatives and architects, NOT A HOTEL (see more here) did not think twice before tapping him for artistic direction. 

NOT A HOTEL TOKYO is a clifftop residence overlooking the bay

VINTAGE-INFUSED interiors, WITH TRADITIONAL JAPANESE ACCENTS

Inside, NIGO included vintage pieces by two of his favorite designers, Jean Prouvé and Pierre Jeanneret, as part of the living room and office furniture. A dining table welcomes twelve guests, and a full kitchen, including a prep area for chefs, is carefully curated to prepare gourmet meals. Complementing the living area is a listening room with speakers from New York’s innovative OJAS, and joining owners in the pool is a giant inflatable duck — the famed icon of NIGO’s brand HUMAN MADE. Guests can stay in multiple bedrooms and sleeping pods identical to the designer’s personal vacation home. A sauna, gym, and wooden Japanese bath accompany the private rooms. 

a living experience curated entirely by NIGO

Inspired by NIGO’s deep involvement in the world of Japanese pottery, the clifftop house by NOT A HOTEL welcomes a proper traditional tea room ready for a sadō tea ceremony. As an avid art collector, the creative director will decorate the house with unique pieces from his favorite contemporary artists, including a giant steel statue from KAWS on the roof. The art will be included in the home ownership (sales for shared ownership in NOT A HOTEL TOKYO will begin this Autumn 2024). 

pool area with a wooden Japanese bath

the dining room area can accommodate 12 guests

sleeping pods inside NOT A HOTEL TOKYO

NIGO includes a proper traditional tea room ready for a sadō tea ceremony

garage area

joining owners in the pool is a giant inflatable duck

NIGO has marked the global creative scene in the last three decades

NOT A HOTEL includes a giant steel statue from KAWS on the roof

project info:

name: NOT A HOTEL TOKYO | @notahotel_official

location: Tokyo Bay, Japan

creative director: NIGO | @nigo

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Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) reveals new details of its NOT A HOTEL, which was first unveiled at the start of this year. The project is set to weave a design-minded, residential escape into the scenic and remote landscape of Sagishima Island, Japan. The group’s design for NOT A HOTEL Setouchi, the newest addition to the hospitality brand’s portfolio, will take shape as a hybrid of Scandinavian and Japanese design principles.

The project prioritizes environmental sensitivity, with its masterplan focusing on restoring the island’s natural contours. Native vegetation will be replanted, and even the existing grass will be harvested before construction begins for later use. The three villas, named 360, 270, and 180 based on their panoramic views, will respectfully integrate into the existing slopes and follow the established road network.

image © MIR (header © LIT Design)

the tree villas of NOT A HOTEL SETOUCHI

Each NOT A HOTEL villa is designed by Bjarke Ingels Group with unique features tailored to its location. The ring-shaped 360 takes the highest position, with sweeping 360-degree views and a central courtyard for privacy. Meanwhile, 270 captures a 270-degree view of the archipelago. Here, bathing spaces resemble floating islands around a pool, complemented by a sauna and a fire pit for outdoor gatherings. Perched closest to the sea on the peninsula’s tip, 180 reflects the coastline’s curvature with its design. Its inner courtyard features gentle slopes, moss-covered walkways, and seasonal trees.

The three and four-bedroom villas evoke traditional Japanese single-story houses, incorporating local materials. Building elements like facades, roofs, walls, and floors are reinterpreted for modern living while retaining their essence — the glass facades are said to be reminiscent of shoji screens. The Genshoseki natural slate floors nods to tatami mats with their patterned layout. The villas will be built with of rammed earth, a technique which is traditional to the region. This will involve the incorporation of local soil to create the load-bearing curved clay walls.

image © MIR

bridging privacy and openness in nature

The villas of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)’s NOT A HOTEL will be organized around a large, open-plan living area. Functional spaces like bathrooms and storage are consolidated into separate volumes, ensuring privacy. Skylights strategically placed above these pods allow natural light to permeate the entire space, lending a balance between openness and privacy. Traditional Japanese baths, calming color palettes, and outdoor firepits will be backdropped by heated infinity pools.

The team notes that sustainability is a key focus at NOT A HOTEL Setouchi. The roofs are covered with solar tiles, a modern interpretation of traditional Japanese roofing. Rainwater collected from the elevated roofs will be used for irrigation, while operable facades and overhangs promote natural cooling during warmer months.

Previous NOT A HOTEL projects include Sou Fujimoto’s undulating green villa on Okinawa’s Ishigaki Island, as well as Masterpiece, a steel residential project designed by the Suppose Design Office. 

image © MIR
image © MIR
image © MIR

image © MIR

image © MIR

image © MIR

project info:

name: NOT A HOTEL Setouchi

architects: Bjarke Ingels Group | @bjarkeingels

location: Sagishima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

client: NOT A HOTEL | @notahotel_official

visualizations: © MIR, LIT Design

The post BIG reveals new details of NOT A HOTEL villas on remote japanese island appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

NOT A HOTEL reveals its latest hospitality concept signed by architecture group Suppose Design Office in Japan‘s Tochigi prefecture. Dubbed NASU CAVE, the project emerges from a natural plateau and spans three floors, offering almost panoramic views of a garden that connects to the sky and a big ranch raising horses just ahead. Amenities at the pet-friendly property include three private bedrooms, a cavernous bath experience, a sauna, an infinity pool, a living-dining room, a terrace, and a hot spring. 

all images courtesy Suppose Design Office

cave-like bath and hot spring by suppose design office

NOT A HOTEL NASU CAVE (see more here) features a cavernous cold bath, drenched in darkness, where visitors can enjoy a moment of calm while gazing at the water’s flickering surface. Complementing the cave-like experience is a glass-enclosed sauna filled with sunlight and framing the outdoor scenery and, just outside, an infinity pool spanning nine meters in width, surrounded by trees. Moving to the more private areas, the team at Suppose Design Office includes an equally cavernous hot spring tucked inside a bathroom, with a wide view towards the ranch.

NOT A HOTEL NASU CAVE sits on a plateau

maintaining privacy while opening up to the wide scenery

The architects maintain that level of privacy and comfort across all three bedrooms without taking away the immersion in generous daylight and natural vistas from the farmland surroundings; one of these rooms even includes slanted windows, through which a star-filled sky can lull you to sleep. Reurning to the more social areas, the building hosts a second-floor outdoor terrace with a fireplace, immediately accessible from the living-dining room lined with a sliding door that brings the outdoors in. Up to six guests can occupy the spaces. 

infinity pool deck

not a hotel nasu cave is clad in moltex

Material-wise, Suppose Design Office coats the exterior and interior walls of NOT A HOTEL NASU CAVE with Moltex, which is carefully handcrafted to create an uneven texture across the entire structure, built from reinforced concrete (RC). ‘This unevenness gives the building an exquisite presence that blends in with the surrounding scenery despite being manmade. The change in color over time is also one of the joys of owning a house,’ concludes the hospitality group. 

the property frames views of a ranch ahead

living-dining room that brings the outdoors in

NOT A HOTEL NASU CAVE can accommodate up to six guests

cavernous bath experience

bedroom with slanted windows

a private hot spring in one of the bedrooms

project info:

name: NOT A HOTEL NASU CAVE 
location: Part of 1298-247, 1298-246 Sahara, Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture

architect: Suppose Design Office | @supposedesignoffice

owner: NOT A HOTEL Inc. | @notahotel_official

opening date: May 2024 

floors: 3 above ground

structure: reinforced concrete (RC) 
total development area: 3,199 sqm
site area: 2,444.19 sqm
indoor area & terraces: 481.76 sqm

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NOT A HOTEL delves into mobile living with ANYWHERE, a new concept led by DDAA architect Daisuke Motogi. The project sees the bold revamp of vintage Airstream and Spartan camping trailers, converting them into five charming rentable vehicles, each set with a different function. Unlike typical mobile housing projects, Motogi sought to offer guests a more enriching and flexible adventure by scattering the different programs across the aluminum trailers. ‘When you try to cram a lot of things into a small space, it becomes unreasonable. For example, the bed is foldable, the toilet and bath are small, and the smell of the kitchen fills the room. […] In addition, I thought it would be nice to be able to choose the trailer according to my needs. There are as many correct answers as there are combinations’ shares the architect. The project, as its name suggests, lacks a specific fixed location, promoting instead an appreciation of different sceneries and landscapes.

all images © Kenta Hasegawa, NewColor inc
. (unless stated otherwise)

converting five vintage trailers into lush mobile living units

NOT A HOTEL ANYWHERE features two large vehicles from Spartan and three camping trailers from Airstream, each boldly refurbished into discreetly luxurious hideouts. The team at DDAA selected certain functions to populate each mobile unit: a bath, kitchen, ‘snack bar’, two private bedrooms, and a study. Complementing these programs is a spacious outdoor living area, created by placing tarps between the vehicles, adaptable to different environments. Additionally, Motogi prioritized a 360-degree view from the windows, using materials that highlighted the vintage trailer aesthetic and minimized external modifications.

revamping three vintage Airstream trailers

According to DDAA, challenges included catering to different occupant numbers. with this in mind, the team set up a design that comfortably accommodates three families with eight members each. Moreover, while considering going off-grid, the complexity of relying on new autonomous infrastructure pushed Motogi to adopt a system that could temporarily connect to existing ones. Currently stationed at a base camp in Aoshima, Miyazaki Prefecture, the units maintain off-grid compatibility. Future plans include renting one or more units in various combinations. However, due to the length of the Spartan trailers, road limitations necessitate well-maintained routes for travel.

image courtesy NOT A HOTEL

All essential functions were concentrated in the lower section, avoiding interference with the windows and keeping functional volumes below waist level. Furniture protruding into the upper section was designed with mesh or transparent materials to minimize visual impact. To maintain the vintage trailer’s texture, Motogi made minimal exterior modifications, focusing on waterproofing. One notable addition, at the client’s insistence, was a sunakku, a type of hostess bar with a rich history in Japan’s night culture. The sunakku design included velvet upholstered high stools, a karaoke monitor, and high-end materials to create an authentic atmosphere.

the five trailers are currently stationed at a base camp in Aoshima, Miyazaki Prefecture

The trailer structures are supported by chassis made from steel square pipes assembled in the form of parallel crosses. Airstream trailers have a straightforward exterior shell assembly of thin aluminum plates riveted to a lightweight steel frame, similar to the LGS substrate in buildings. Spartan trailers, for example, consist of thin aluminum plates riveted to a wood base. Despite the exterior shell’s curved surfaces, variations in window positions and specifications required detailed measurements for each vehicle. Concerns about leaks from new openings led DDAA to reseal all rivets after a sprinkler test, retaining the vintage exterior while significantly revamping the interior.

stepping stones leading to the mobile units redesigned by DDAA

Practical considerations included placing necessary functions in each room and meeting requirements for road legality, such as installing license plates. Camouflaging box-like wheelhouses, which serve as splash guards and protrude into the interior, was crucial. For thermal insulation, we utilized glass wool and a flexible PE foam material, ensuring it adheres to curved surfaces without cracking. The lightweight PE foam met weight limits for each vehicle, and DDAA plans to enhance insulation and features as it continues developing the concept behind NOT A HOTEL ANYWHERE. 

spacious outdoor living area

study area

bathroom

using rich material mixes to create an elegant and warm setup

snack bar – detail shot

snack bar at night

NOT A HOTEL ANYWHERE’s ambient design redefines mobile living

project info:

name: NOT A HOTEL ANYWHERE

architect: DDAA | @ddaa_inc

team: Daisuke Motogi / Yurika Mantoku

client: NOT A HOTEL | @notahotel_official

collaborator: SOUP DESIGN Architecture

construction: SET UP
P

planting: Yard Works Inc.


textile design: onder de linde

artwork: Hiroshi Takizawa

photographers: Kenta Hasegawa, NewColor inc
.

total floor area: 74.32 sqm 

completion date: April 2023 

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Startup hospitality brand NOT A HOTEL has initiated sales for Ishigaki Earth, Sou Fujimoto‘s undulating green villa in Japan, one year after its debut. Situated on the serene Ishigaki Island in Okinawa, this retreat occupies an expansive 9,900-square-meter property along the island’s southwestern coast. Its circular design, crowned by a lush undulating roof, eliminates the conventional concept of a front or back, inviting nature to envelop it from all angles. Large openings in the meadowed rooftop frame picturesque vistas of the sky, blurring the lines between architecture and nature. 

all images by NOT A HOTEL

Inside fujimoto’s fluid interiors

Architect Sou Fujimoto‘s vision for the NOT A HOTEL project focused on harmonizing the villa with its pristine nature. Mimicking the gentle undulations of rolling hills, its circular structure and concave design provide residents with unobstructed views, blending the island’s lush greenery with ocean panoramas. The retreat offers practical amenities, including an infinity pool merging with the sea, unobstructed living and dining areas with expansive views, an underwater sauna, and a fully equipped gym. The living area, extending outward, features full-height glazing bringing the landscape indoors. Additionally, the villa comprises four bedrooms, comfortably accommodating up to ten people. Each bedroom is crafted for tranquility, with the waterside bedroom providing calming views of the sea, complemented by a bathroom designed to connect residents with the horizon.

atop the roof garden, there’s a pool where children can play freely and a fireplace for gathering around a warm fire

the meadowed rooftop resembles the gentle undulations of rolling hills

a tranquil space harmoniously intertwined with Ishigaki Island’s pristine nature

large openings invite the landscape indoors

a pool where the sky and water meet, creating a beautiful fusion of horizons

the living and dining rooms gaze upon the evening sky 

project info:

name: Ishigaki Earth

architects: Sou Fujimoto | @sou_fujimoto

client: NOT A HOTEL | @notahotel_official

location: Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

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