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The Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku won GOLD in the MUSE DESIGN AWARDS 2022.

Francesco Ristori and Anna Nishigori are young designers who are steadily developing their skills and practice, including interior design for the hotel.

In this interview, we focused on the design work conducted at Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku, and interviewed the two about how they became interested in design and their personal lives.

*Francesco Ristori, hereafter referred to as “Francesco”; Anna Nishigori, hereafter referred to as “Nishigori.”

 

◆First of all, please tell us about your backgrounds.

Francesco: “I studied architecture at the University of Florence. After graduation, I worked in Italy designing residential and retail buildings and restoring many historical buildings. In the process, I became interested in designing new buildings and decided to move to Japan, where there are many historical buildings, just as in Italy.”

 Nishigori: “I originally majored in civil engineering. However, I became interested in the renovation of historical buildings after encountering Tate Modern in the UK. So, I decided to study interior design in England.”

 ◆Please tell us about the properties you have worked on since joining GARDE.

Francesco:“Since coming to Japan in 2014, he has participated in a wide range of office, hospitality, residential, retail, and department store projects in Japan and Asia, including, MetLife Tokyo Garden Terrace Olinas Tower, Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku, Kosugi 3rd Avenue, HOTEL ARU KYOTO Sanjo-Kiyamachi, and many other projects in Japan and Asia at large, in a wide range of genres including office, hospitality, residential, commercial, and department stores. My current focus is office design.”

 Nishigori: “Since joining the company, I have worked on interior design for various genres such as hotels, retail, and food halls. For example, I have been in charge of designing various properties with a focus on hospitality design, such as Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku, and US HOTEL.”

◆What did you keep in mind when designing Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku?

Francesco: “I felt that Kyoto has a strong identity and connection with its neighborhood associations in a positive sense;where communities are formed,and culture is nurtured. I thought this was very valuable and would continue to be so, so I tried to ensure that the hotel design would gently blend in with the town while maintaining harmony with the surrounding community.

Nishigori: “When we first toured the house, the machiya was very dark, but due to the nature of the lounge, we tried to create a bright space that everyone would want to enter as a place welcoming to guests. On the other hand, there were many regulations that made it difficult to design the space, such as not allowing holes in the beams due to the fact that is a historical building. In this situation, we worked while considering how to integrate  `character` of Candeo Hotel, and how to express it in the design.

◆What are some of the things that have inspired you?

Francesco:“The key to the design of the Candeo Hotel is its femininity. Therefore, we picked up the best materials that convey a soft and elegant image, starting with feminine colors, and worked to incorporate them into the design without being obnoxious.”

Nishigori: “Since the concept of the `character` of Candeo Hotel  was `glitz and glamour`, we were inspired by jewelry as a symbol of that concept.”

◆What are the key points of the design and what do you definitely want people to see here?

Francesco:“The courtyard is the focal point of Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku, where the fragrance of the historic machiya house and the gentle, modern design of the new building merge. I hope you will see and feel it.

Nishigori: “The structure of the room currently used as a BAR is interesting and definitely something to behold”

◆Through the MUSE DESIGN AWARDS and other design awards, our designs have been highly evaluated. What are the points that you think have been highly evaluated?

Francesco:  “I believe that the gentle blend of the new structure with the historic building is a key point in its evaluation.

Nishigori: “I think the key to the design is in the fusion of old and new, with a connection between the historical value of the townhouse itself and the new building that takes advantage of this value.”

◆What have you learned through the design of Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku?

Francesco: It was very exciting to be involved in a project that blends historical buildings that tend to be untouched depending on their intended use with new architecture, transforming them into completely new structures, and I believe it was a wonderful experience for my future design work.

Nishigori:There were more regulations than for buildings I had experienced before, so I learned a lot thinking about how to give shape to the design I envisioned. Specifically, I did research on buildings in advance and designed them while thinking about where to show them off.”

◆How do you want to use this in your future design work?

Francesco:  “In future projects, as in this one, I would like to design with consideration for the surrounding history and community. The reason for this is that regardless of whether it is a new property, renovation, or refurbishment, we believe it is the job of the architect/designer to pass on to the next generation the history and culture that has already been nurtured in that location, and the connection to the surrounding area that has always existed.”

Nishigori: “When designing, you must think about the actual construction method and how it will fit together beautifully.”

◆What design or project (either domestic or international) would you like to be involved in or work on in the future?

Francesco:“Based on this experience, we would like to reincarnate and renovate historical buildings as office environments, making the best use of modern technology and methods.”

Nishigori: “If given the opportunity, I would like to design a renovation of a historical building again.”

 

◇From here on out, we’re going to talk about the designer`s private lives…

◆I think your schedule becomes quite hard when you are close to the deadline. Is there anything you do to keep yourself going even in such a situation?

Francesco:“I am not doing anything special. The closer the deadline gets, the more efficient my production naturally becomes (laughs).”

Nishigori:“I try to get a good night’s sleep.”

◆How do you spend your days off?

Francesco: “I leave the city with my family and get in touch with nature.”

Nishigori:“Schooling, working on assignments, playing with my cats, and going out for a nice dinner with my husband!”

◆I think that a balance between design and mind/body is very necessary. What do you recommend to keep this balance?

Francesco:“For me, the moment I leave the office, I try to forget about work and switch to personal mode!”

Nishigori:“It’s all about eating good food and getting a good night’s sleep!”

◆What do you think is the one thing you must not lose when you are involved in the design business?

Francesco:“Motivation.”

Nishigori: “The spirit to never give up”

◆What do you want to convey through architectural design that will last for 100 or 200 years?

Francesco:“I believe that the quality of design can be found in the importance of history. In other words, architectural design is connected by connecting history. That is what I would like to convey

Nishigori: ”Quite simply, I think good design is appreciated regardless of time.

◆What advice would you give to those who want to get involved in design and make a living from it?

Francesco:“Design is a multi-sensory experience, not just a desk study. Always be curious about what happens in before your eyes, and be curious about a wide range of things, not just design!”

Nishigori:“I think it’s important to actually experience it for yourself!”

◆What appeals to you?

Francesco: “I think this is where I have an international mindset and like to take in even more different perspectives, ways of thinking, and ideas.”

Nishigori: It’s an INFP-T type of place!

 

The two artists strive to improve their senses and skills while maintaining a good daily life-work balance and at the same time feeling the importance of design. We look forward to seeing their designs enriching the eyes and hearts of many people around the world in the future!

◆Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

■Designer Profile

Francesco Ristori
International Design Division, Office Department, Architect, Designer
After achieving a master’s degree in architecture at the University of Florence, he specialized in Italy in housing and retail projects, as well as heritage buildings restoration. Since 2014 he has been involved as designer at GARDE, operating in Japan and Korea, China, and south-east Asia, involved in several project scales, such as corporate offices, hospitality, residential, commercial facilities, and department stores.

Anna Nishigori
Design Division, Large-scale Facility Design Department, Designer
After studying interior architecture in the UK and obtaining MA, she joined GARDE in 2017. She was involved in the concept planning, schematic design and construction document of Kyoto Candeo Hotel and Osaka’s new hotel. Utilizing the interior architecture technology she learned in the UK, she has been involved in various projects both in Japan and overseas with the focus on hospitality design.

The MUSE DESIGN AWARDS were established in New York to honor creative and design professionals and is a well-known and well-recognized competition that is open globally.

It is organized by the International Awards Associate (IAA), which aims to promote excellence in various creative and design industries by providing a forum for professionals to compete against their peers.

The IAA maintains impartiality by having a review committee composed of industry professionals as well as by having an established evaluation criteria based on industry standards.

The mission of the judges is to seek out companies and individuals with exceptional talent that will become new benchmarks in their respective industries.

 

In 2022, more than 6,000 entries were received from all over the world, among which “Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku” and “Ningbo Hankyu” designed by GARDE were awarded GOLD and “Beijing Xidan Joycity 2F Jewelry Theme Zone” was awarded SILVER.

 

■Features of each property…

The” Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku” preserved and restored a valuable machiya (townhouse). It was the former Banke Residence, a tangible cultural property registered by the city of Kyoto. It does not simply make the old new, beautiful, and easy to use; but also, further optimizes the “completed design” (the optimal solution) at a high level.

 

“Ningbo Hankyu” was designed to be an oasis where people can gather and spend time comfortably, and to transmit Japanese elements, not simply expressing traditional Japanese culture as it is, but sublimating it into a modern design.

 

The “Beijin Xidan JoyCity 2F Jewelry Theme Zone” was designed as a “BrandMix” space with a casual café space, rather than a classical space with a heavy emphasis on luxury like a conventional jewelry store.

 

We believe that winning the “MUSE DESIGN AWARDS 2022” serves as proof that GARDE’s originality, ingenuity, and thoroughness in design creation have been recognized around the world.

 

GARDE enters numerous national and international awards each year with the goal of spreading the word about the excellence of its space and design, even after the property design is completed.

 

・MUSE DESIGN AWARD official website：https://design.museaward.com/

The iF DESIGN AWARD, sponsored by the Germany-based International Forum Design (Industrial Design Association), was established in 1953 and is well-known worldwide.

In 2022, more than 10,000 entries were received from over 60 countries, and 132 renowned design experts from over 20 countries selected outstanding designs based on the criteria of “IDEA,” “FORM,” “FUNCTION,” “DIFFERENTIATION,” and “IMPACT” to discover the next rising stars in the design world.

 

The new workplace for VMware Japan, designed by GARDE, was awarded the iF DESIGN AWARD 2022.

 

The concept of the space design is simple and understated yet projects future technology.   The design is inspired by a unique Japanese concept of uramasari, which has an inner richness, expression, and color that is hidden by a humble and unassuming exterior.

 

The concept is expressed by making the visitor area subtle and harmonious while the staff area is colorful and expressive.

This focus on flexibility and collaboration serves a role in inspiring and facilitating new ways of working.

 

GARDE enters numerous national and international awards each year with the goal of inspiring others with the excellence of our space and design well after the design is completed.

 

・iF DESIGN AWARD official website：https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/vmware-japan-office/348555

 

 

The International Design Awards (IDA) was established in 2007 to discover, recognize, and promote excellence in architecture, interior, product, graphic, and fashion design from around the world.

The jury consists of professionals with more than 15 years of experience in their respective industries, and entries are judged randomly and anonymously to ensure fair and impartial judging.

The awards are not simply for beauty or artistic value, but also for innovation (providing new creations for the market or complementing/improving existing products and services), functionality (ease of use, safety, ease of maintenance), ergonomics (is it based on user-first principles?), durability (quality and longevity), and social impact (social benefits of the design), utility (does it meet the user’s objectives and needs), ecological compatibility (are potential environmental and ecological impacts addressed), production feasibility (technical and economic realities of production and large-scale use), Emotional Quotient / EQ (achievement of practical objectives and design enjoyment and satisfaction) the criteria are said to be wide-ranging and demanding, including the achievement of practical objectives and design enjoyment and satisfaction.

For such an award as the IDAs, four properties, “THE ME,” “Gurney Food Hall,” “VMware,” and “KL EAST MALL,” received Honorable Mentions. They were recognized for their originality and special design.

 

GARDE enters numerous national and international awards each year with the goal of spreading the word about the excellence of its space and design, even after the property design is completed.

 

■International Design Awards official website：https://www.idesignawards.com/

 

In December, GARDE and the Faculty of Architecture, The University of Da Nang, Vietnam co-hosted a web seminar titled “Tradition and Future”. In the seminar, participants exchanged passionate presentations on the achievements and examples of redesign and rebranding of traditional architecture in Japan and Vietnam, as well as the state of architecture and design in the post-corona era.

When you hear the words “tradition and future,” what comes to mind? Most of them are probably visible things such as culture, design, and form. Of course, they are inextricably linked to tradition and the future. However, in the creation of things such as architecture, the atmosphere and smell of the time period, the technology, the thoughts, hopes, efforts and struggles of the creator, and many other elements are included.

In recent years, there has also been an increase in the consideration of social issues such as “sustainability,” “SDGs,” and “environmental issues.” In architecture, consideration of environmental aspects, versatility, and sustainability in architectural design is becoming more important throughout the design, construction, and operation stages.

This means that the pursuit of “rationalism,” “humanism,” “progressivism,” and “convenience” promoted by modernization, where all that is needed is to innovate and cultivate customers, is becoming unacceptable in the future. It may mean that concepts and mechanisms such as “how does it work for sustainable development of society” and “what methods can be used to solve social issues” will become the pillars of product creation.This is not the first time that we are addressing social issues. Environmental architecture that is sustainable has been adopted in buildings dating back more than 200 years.

In this issue, we would like to introduce you to “redesigned architecture” that conveys a grand historical story and a tribute to the past.

■Candeo Hotel Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku (Kyoto, Japan)

Opened in June 2021, Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku is a redesign of the former Banke residence, a traditional machiya house registered as a tangible cultural property by the city of Kyoto. Among the machiya houses, the “Former Banke Family Residence” is a valuable building that retains the atmosphere of the time.The tatami room, which consists of the main room and the next room, has been finished in a sukiya style with menkawabashira pillars and menkawanageshi screens.In addition, the main room has a floor, shelves, and a hirashoin, and the shelves are decorated with ink paintings by Taiga Ikeno. It is an excellent design, with no skimping on details. In order to maximize the charm of the building, the tatami mats in the reception room, lounge, and bar have been kept intact, while the original courtyard has been preserved, and the reception room on the first floor has been carefully designed so that visitors can enjoy the Kyoto machiya space while relaxing.

The building consists of three wings: the reception wing, the guest room wing, and the large bathroom wing. In particular, the reception room, bar and lounge in the reception building are made from the original tatami space. The reception room features sliding doors with ink paintings by Taiga Ikeno, a literary painter from Kyoto, and a sandalwood-scented entrance to create a relaxing space reminiscent of Japan. In the bar space, the hanging lights on the street floor seen through the latticed windows create an atmosphere like watching lanterns displayed at a festival, creating the feeling of living in a machiya.

During the Gion Festival, which is the busiest time of the year in Kyoto, a float (Jomyozan) is assembled in front of the hotel. It is a valuable redesigned building where you can feel the history and atmosphere of Kyoto close at hand.

■ Former Sakuramiya Public Hall (Osaka, Japan)

The former Sakuramiya Public Hall was built in 1935 as the Meiji Emperor Memorial Hall and was renamed the Sakuramiya Public Hall in 1948 after the war. The main entrance, made of tatsuyama stone, is a replica of the entrance of the Mint (now known as the Mint Bureau), which was built in 1871 by British architect and civil engineer Thomas James Waters. It is one of the oldest existing modern buildings in Japan and is designated as a national important cultural asset. It was the façade of Japan’s first real Western-style large factory complex, or foundry.

Incidentally, Thomas Waters was involved in the construction of the Osaka Mint, various Western-style factories for sugar, spinning, and paper, the Takebashi Jinei Clock Tower, and the British Legation. Japan’s first Hoffman-style wheeled kiln was built in Kosuge Village (now known as Kosuge, Katsushika Ward, Tokyo) to manufacture the bricks used in the Ginza Red Bricktown. He was one of the first important figures to bring Western-style architecture to Japan from the end of the Edo period to the early Meiji period.

After becoming the Sakuramiya Public Hall, it was used for various purposes such as a library and a youth art gallery before being closed in 2007. To save the building, which was an important cultural asset but had been abandoned without any use, the city of Osaka and a private company decided to launch a project to effectively utilize the historical asset.

Under the concept of “a fusion of the old and the new,” the project was designed to bring a modern sense of design to the building, while preserving the dignity and beauty of its history. The building was revived as the “Old Sakuramiya Public Hall” by restoring the original features such as he decorative ceiling, stage, and large arched windows have been restored to the way they were when the building was completed 78 years ago, and balancing the classic feel with the newly introduced furnishings and design. It is now a memorial space for wedding ceremonies and continues to create happy stories for many people.

■Soldier Field (Chicago, USA)

After World War I, many memorials and buildings were built to remember those who lost their lives in the war. One such memorial is the Greek Revival Soldier Field (1924) in the city of Chicago.Designed by Holabird and Roche in 1919 and featuring a huge Doric arcade, it was officially opened on November 27, 1926 at the 29th Army-Navy Game and. It has been home to the Chicago Bears football team since 1971.In 2003, the stadium was renovated by Wood and Zapata in conjunction with Chicago-based Rohan Caprile Gesch Associates, but the renovation remains controversial to this day. Finally, in 2006, the building was removed from the National Register of Historic Places. Let’s just say that preservationists and sports fans have their own ideas here…

As for the renovations, the reinforced concrete shell was retained, and the interior was redesigned with asymmetrical curved steel and glass fixtures. By demolishing the old and cramped sections, the overall capacity was reduced, but the distance between the spectators’ seats and the field became closer, and the space was successfully reborn with a live atmosphere.

While some critics have called it an “unsightly addition to the Lakeshore” and an “acropolis disaster.” However, many people have defended and praised the space-like design and design.

This is a wonderful building that shows the hard work and dedication of the people involved in this project, not to mention the difficulty of renovating a historic facility to satisfy both fans and conservationists.

◆Sources

https://www.candeohotels.com/ja/kyoto-rokkaku/

https://restaurant.novarese.jp/smk/

http://www.kenzai.or.jp/tanbou/240.html

https://www.hanmoto.com/bd/isbn/9784808710828