The Kyoto Global Design Awards is an international design award established to honor the world’s best designers who have contributed to the design trends of the year and to foster a friendly and co-prosperous ecosystem in the design world.
Winners of the Kyoto Global Design Awards are selected through a rigorous selection process in collaboration with the Global Summit Association (GSA) International Evaluation Committee.
In such 2022 Kyoto Global Design Awards, “Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo” was awarded in the Restaurant / Hotel / Bar category.
Below is an overview of the entries for each project.
Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo
・Category：Restaurant / Hotel / Bar
Concept: The design theme for the main space is “learning from the past”. By mixing inorganic and modern industrial materials such as concrete and deck plates with materials and furnishings such as bare lighting and big tables made of old lumber that have been milled for over 100 years, the space expresses warmth and nostalgia for the long passage of time that Kyoto has nurtured, as well as a future that allows and develops the newness that Kyoto has to offer. This is expressed from the approach. As you pass through the facade, which is a modern arrangement of a traditional machiya (townhouse), we have devised a way to heighten the sense of anticipation for this hotel by installing “noren,” which gently controls the light and visibility from the outside.
GARDE enters several national and international awards each year with the aim of spreading the word about the excellence of its space and design, even after the property design has been completed.
Kyoto Global Design Awards official site:
https://www.kgd-a.org/en/kyoto-global-design-awards
The International Design Awards (IDA) exists to recognize, celebrate and promote exceptional design visionaries and discover emerging talent in Architecture, Interior, Product, Graphic and Fashion Design worldwide.
The evaluation process for entries to the IDA is based on various judging criteria, constantly adapting to new creative, technical, social, economic and ecological requirements.
In such 16th International Design Awards, “Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku” and “Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo” received the award.
Here is an overview of the entries for each project.
Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku
Category：Interior design/ Renovation
Concept：The design concept is to compare the preciousness of a very valuable traditional building, Banke residence itself, to the brilliance of a jewel, with glittering decorations reminiscent of bijou (jewels) in key places. These glittering decorations are modern interpretations of traditional Kyoto crafts and ornaments, and are that which will adorn the new color scheme of the Banke residence. In order to achieve a design that blends and harmonizes with the surrounding environment, which has many historical buildings and historical aspects, we utilized the straight lines that are characteristic of Japanese-style architecture, while combining travertine colors and warm pink and bronze details in the patterns. The result is an unexpected space with a Western design.
Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo
Category：Interior design/ Hotels & Resorts
Concept: The design theme for the main space is “learning from the past”. By mixing inorganic and modern industrial materials such as concrete and deck plates with materials and furnishings such as bare lighting and big tables made of old lumber that have been milled for over 100 years, the space expresses warmth and nostalgia for the long passage of time that Kyoto has nurtured, as well as a future that allows and develops the newness that Kyoto has to offer.This is expressed from the way one approaches the building. As you pass through the facade, which is a modern arrangement of a traditional machiya (townhouse), we have devised a way to heighten the sense of anticipation for this hotel by installing “noren,” which gently controls the light and visibility from outside.
GARDE enters several national and international awards each year, with the aim of spreading the word about the excellence of its space and design, even after the property design has been completed.
The Outstanding Property Award London was created to recognize the efforts of talented international real estate developers, architects, and interior designers in creating practical and thoughtful properties and projects that make our lives better. The projects are selected by a jury of leading real estate professionals.
In such Outstanding Property Award London2022, “Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo” and “Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku” were awarded.
The following is an overview of the entries for each project:
Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo
Category：Interior design/Hotels Boutique
Concept: The design theme for the main space is “learning from the past”. Mixing inorganic and modern industrial materials such as concrete and deck plates with materials and furnishings such as bare lighting and big tables made of old lumber that have been milled for over 100 years, the space expresses warmth and nostalgia for the long passage of time that Kyoto has nurtured, as well as a future that allows and develops the newness that Kyoto has to offer.This is expressed from the approach. As you pass through the facade, which is a modern arrangement of a traditional machiya (townhouse), we have devised a way to heighten the sense of anticipation for this hotel by installing “noren,” which gently controls the light and visibility from outside.
Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku
Category：Interior design/Historical
Concept: Comparing the preciousness of the traditional architecture of the “Former Ban Family Residence” to the brilliance of a jewel, we have created a glittering decoration reminiscent of jewels in key places. These glittering decorations are a modern interpretation of traditional Kyoto crafts and ornaments and will be the “bijoux” that will adorn the new color scheme of the Ban Family Residence.
To achieve a design that blends in and harmonizes with the surrounding environment, which is rich in historical buildings and historical aspects, the straight lines characteristic of Japanese-style architecture are utilized while the patterns combine travertine colors and warm pink-bronze details to create a Western-style design space with an unexpected feel.
GARDE enters several national and international awards each year with the aim of spreading the word about the excellence of its space and design, even after the property design has been completed.
Outstanding Property Award London Official site：
https://outstandingpropertyaward.com/
Following the library architecture within Japan that was introduced in the previous issue, this time, we would like to introduce our readers to some overseas library architecture, for those of you who must want to pay a visit some libraries with an atmosphere that is different from that of Japan.
Contents
・Centre Pompidou, France
・Kaohsiung Public Library, Taiwan
・Tauranga Central Library, New Zealand
・Vancouver Public Library, Canada
１．Centre Pompidou, France
The Pompidou Center is a cultural complex in Paris designed by architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. It is famous for housing the National Museum of Modern Art, but the public library on the first to third floors of the building also enjoys great popularity and is crowded every day.
The highlight of the building is the innovative design with escalators, elevators, and piping, which is all laid bare. The piping is color-coded and can be enjoyed as part of the design. By placing the piping and equipment outside, the interior is pillar-less, creating a large, airport-like space.
The Pompidou Center has announced that it will be closed from the end of 2023 to the end of 2026 for the complete renovation of the building. If you want to visit, now is the time!
２．Kaohsiung Public Library, Taiwan
The new general building of the Kaohsiung Public Library stands out for its uniqueness. It was designed jointly by Japanese architect Toyo Ito and the Taiwanese firm of Ricky Liu & Associates Architects+planners. The exterior is a square glass-walled structure with outstanding transparency, which emits light at night.
The spacious interior of the building has a suspended structure that minimizes the number of visible pillars, creating a space that is easy to walk around. A garden on the rooftop provides a refreshing change of pace from the city.
The new general building of the Kaohsiung Public Library was designed to be an environmentally friendly public building that connects nature and culture. The simple design, greenery surrounding the building, and quiet and comfortable space provide a pleasant reading experience
３．Tauranga Central Library, New Zealand
Tūranga, Christchurch’s modern, eye-catching central library in Christchurch, New Zealand, was the first public facility to open in the area, which was severely damaged by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
In designing the building, the architects worked with the Matapopore Charitable Trust, an organization dedicated to realizing the values, aspirations, and stories of the local Maori Ngāi Tūāhuriri people. Their aim was to incorporate traditional knowledge and culture into the design, from the building materials to the spatial arrangement.
The library, a modern building with a sense of culture and tradition, is a symbol of recovery and is loved by residents and visitors alike.
４．Vancouver Public Library, Canada
The Vancouver Public Library is a grand, large, spiraling space. Together with federal offices and stores, the library forms a section known as Vancouver Library Square, which is both a quiet place of study for the public and an important community gathering place. The structure of the building is a nine-story rectangle with the stacks located in the center. An oval colonnade with reading and study areas, wraps around the entire stack area. In addition, a concourse located on the east side of the site encloses the library and serves a its landmark.
A park on the roof of the library and a café on the ground level provide easy access to the socializing and rest areas.
In this issue, we have introduced library architecture from all over the world.
We hope that whenever you visit a library, you will take a look at its architecture as well.
During recent years, it seems many people have adjusted spending time at home because of the Corona disaster. There are a wide variety of ways to spend time at home. Among them, one of the most popular is reading books, which can be done easily in one’s spare time.
In this issue, we would like to introduce library architectures. Why not immerse yourself in the world of books and lose track of time in an innovative reading space?
CONTENTS
Yamanashi Prefectural Library, Yamanashi
‘Minna no Mori’ Gifu Media Cosmos, Gifu
Kyoto Prefectural Library, Kyoto
Okayama Prefectural Library, Okayama
Nasushiobara Municipal Library Miruru, Tochigi
１．Yamanashi Prefectural Library, Yamanashi
The Yamanashi Prefectural Library was established in front of Kofu Station in Yamanashi Prefecture, following the relocation of the library due to its dilapidation. The main concept of “living with nature” is expressed by the blue sky that can be seen from the ceiling and the curtain wall of vines. The skeletal frame was created in the image of the grape trellises and grape baskets which are associated with Yamanashi.
To dispel the image of the library as a quiet place, the library has set up spaces where people can freely talk and interact with each other. A silent room is also available for those who wish to concentrate on reading or working.
２．’Minna no Mori’ Gifu Media Cosmos, Gifu
‘Minna no Mori’ (A Forrest for All) Gifu Media Cosmos is a cultural complex consisting of Gifu City Chuo Library, the Community Activity Exchange Center, and the Multicultural Exchange Plaza. The library boasts a maximum collection of 900,000 books and seats 910 people. Upon entering the building, visitors will notice the wooden lattice roof that spans the entire ceiling. The gigantic bulbs are arranged like objects hanging from the ceiling. These are called “globes,” and they play the role of diffusing natural light into the room. The smooth, bending ceiling, the beautifully transparent globes, and the space surrounded by Gifu cypress will help you relax and lose track of time.
３．Kyoto Prefectural Library, Kyoto
The Kyoto Prefectural Library was designed by Goichi Takeda, known as the father of Kansai architecture, and opened in 1909. Its exterior gives a sense of the Western architecture that Takeda developed during his studies in the early 20th century. The building’s straight lines and curves are a perfect fusion of Western and Japanese styles, representing the modern architecture of the Meiji period.
The nearby Otorii (Grand Gate) of Heian Shrine is within view of the library, where visitors can stop by for a refreshing break from reading.
４．Okayama Prefectural Library, Okayama
The Okayama Culture Zone is an area where various cultural facilities and famous sites representing Okayama Prefecture, including Okayama Castle, are concentrated. The Okayama Prefectural Library is located in one of these areas. Located in a historical landscape area, the library is designed to connect other facilities with the natural landscape, showing the integration of history, nature, and architecture.
The reading room is a simple space with few columns. In consideration of the earth and running costs, natural ventilation systems and rainwater harvesting, solar power generation, and other natural energy sources are used. Sharp vertical windowpanes let in plenty of natural light, providing an ideal environment for reading.
５．Nasushiobara Municipal Library Miruru, Tochigi
Nasushiobara Municipal Library Miruru stands in front of JR Kuroiso Station in Nasushiobara City. The library embraces visitors by creating a “forest” which is the regional identity of Nasushiobara City. The entire library is covered with an angled louvered ceiling that resembles the lower edge of the canopy of a grove of trees. Lights pouring down from the roof represent sunlight filtering through the trees.
The library is intended to be a place of discovery and learning, where visitors can freely roam around the building and encounter the world of sculptures, exhibits, and activities scattered throughout the building. You are sure to find your favorite space in the laid-back museum.
In this issue, we have introduced Japanese library architecture.
Whether its for a change of pace or to find your favorite book, we hope you enjoy your reading time in an environment that is slightly different from your everyday routine.
