It has been planned for some time, but on 1 September, the magnificent Hotel Okura in Tokyo really is closing to be demolished. Two glass towers will rise in its place, replacing this 1960s gem of Japanese architecture.
Completed in 1962 by a team of five architects led by Yoshiro Taniguchi – who personally designed the welcoming lobby – the hotel was bold and very Western (read: modern) for its time, but with a distinct Japanese aesthetic brought to life by the craftsmen who decorated the space with silk wall coverings, delicate wooden lattice work, specially commissioned tiles, carpets and lighting fixtures. The Okura was a masterfully designed and executed space; a project ahead of its time and an important part of modern Japanese architectural history that, sadly, is soon to be no more.
The Okura was originally opened just in time for the 1964 Olympics. Ironically, it is the forthcoming 2020 games that have prompted the management to scrap and rebuild the lauded structure. The rooms will be slightly bigger (between 30–33 sq m and 48–56 sq m), slightly more numerous (550 rooms from the present 408) and fitted with the latest gadgets, new piping and earthquake proofing. However, pessimistic speculation would posit that the new Okura may lack the detailed, old-school, craft-based charm of its predecessor.
The new design has been put in the hands of Taniguchi's son, Yoshio Taniguchi – a successful architect in his own right, whose approach favours more contemporary, minimalist, clean lines. While the construction takes place, the hotel will operate from the original building's 1973 South Wing addition. For now, it will retain its original appearance, with the classic Orchid bar from the main building and the hotel's restaurants temporarily relocated, offering a chance for the public to visit that seminal interior for a final time.
Completed in 1962 by a team led by Yoshiro Taniguchi, the Okura was bold and very Western (read: modern) for its time
The hotel's distinct Japanese aesthetic was brought to life by the craftsmen who decorated the space with silk wall coverings, delicate wooden lattice work, specially commissioned tiles, carpets and lighting fixtures
The building was completed in 1962 by a team of five architects led by Yoshiro Taniguchi
The Okura was a masterfully designed and executed space...
... a project ahead of its time and an important part of modern Japanese architectural history
The Okura was originally opened just in time for the 1964 Olympics – but it is the forthcoming 2020 games that have prompted the management to rebuild the lauded structure
The new design has been put in the hands of Taniguchi's son, Yoshio Taniguchi – a successful architect in his own right
In contrast to his father, Yoshio's approach favours more contemporary, minimalist, clean lines
While the construction takes place, the hotel will operate from the original building's 1973 South Wing addition
Until the work is complete, the hotel retain its original appearance with the classic Orchid bar from the main building and the hotel's restaurants temporarily relocated
ADDRESS
Hotel Okura Tokyo
2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-0001
-
Our Tech Editor's selection of new and upgraded audio players covers the full spectrum of formatsWhether it’s vinyl, cassette, CD or mp3, or even sound sources you’ve captured yourself, you’ll find a suitable device in this round-up of pocketable and portable audio players
-
This Swedish summer house is a family's serene retreat by the trees and the Baltic seaHorsö, a Swedish summer house by Atelier Alba is a playfully elegant retreat by the Kalmarsund Sea and a natural reserve
-
A new exhibition retraces 50 years of Pierre Paulin’s history around the table‘Les Tables de Pierre Paulin’ shows a lesser-known side of the designer’s creative world, accompanied by a new book tracing his wife’s hospitality around his iconic table designs. ‘A creator is never alone in his creation…’
-
First look: Noma Kyoto returns and aims to ‘double-wow’ dinersNoma Kyoto opens on 8 October for a ten-week pop-up inside Ace Kyoto. Thomas Lykke, co-founder of OEO Studio, tells us of the interiors’ autumn-forest inspiration
-
Kengo Kuma’s new Kyoto hotel is ‘a sanctuary of ethereal beauty’A former ryokan inn, Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto offers onsen rooms equipped with natural hot spring water, and a contemporary take on a Noh theatre
-
A minimalist teahouse makes a serene addition to a Tadao Ando-designed Kyoto hotelOgata at The Shinmonzen is a contemporary reinterpretation of a Japanese teahouse that sells traditional blends, confectionery, crafts and fragrances
-
Tour the new Four Seasons Osaka, where time stands stillSet within a 49-storey tower, Four Seasons Osaka takes the traditional ryokan experience to new heights
-
Aman Residences Tokyo float high above the Japanese capitalAman Residences Tokyo, Aman Group’s first standalone branded residences, feature dramatic yet serene interiors by Yabu Pushelberg
-
Step inside this rare Shiro Kuramata-designed cocktail bar in JapanShiro Kuramata designed hundreds of bars in his lifetime, but few remain intact. Now fans are making a pilgrimage to Comblé Bar in Shizuoka
-
Take off with Wallpaper* June 2024: The Travel IssueThe Wallpaper* June 2024 Travel Issue is on sale now, ready to whisk you to the best of Ho Chi Minh City, Caracas’ modernist marvels, classy Canadian cabins, a Swiss sleep retreat, and more
-
Find yourself at Six Senses Kyoto, the brand's breathtaking Japan debutSix Senses Kyoto opens its doors boasting tranquil, luxurious interiors by Blink Design Group
