Conceptual design for a renovation project of a hotel in Okinawa, Japan.
"The hotel was designed to be loved by the locals, but also to make full use of the potential of the original building. The entrance, lit by a skylight, gives the visitors an intriguing feeling. The guest rooms have been designed without unnecessary decorations in mind so that guests can spend their time in a relaxed atmosphere. The lounge and restaurant are versatile and can be used by non-guests.
The materials and furniture that make up the space are made from a variety of Okinawa sourced products and materials. In this way, we can contribute to the local industry.
The paint used in the hotel includes an anti-bacterial and anti-virus component known as a "light responsive photocatalyst", which reacts when using indoor light such as fluorescent light or LED. In addition, as the climate is warm and people spend a lot of time in their bare feet, the materials used in the guest rooms have a special texture that can be enjoyed when touched.
Riki Watanabe aimed to create designs that will be long loved by users and clients.
Bio With a focus on interior design, Riki Watanabe work spans across a wide range of professional fields such as creative direction and branding. Utilizing the knowledge and multifaceted perspectives that we have cultivated through designing commercial spaces, hospitality spaces, exhibitions, products, and other genres, we design in consideration of the way places should be, the experiences that can be gained there, and the flow of time.
Other prizes 2015: DSA Design Award 2015 winner.(JP) 2018: DSA Design Award 2018 winner.(JP) 2018: IDM Tokyo 2018 AWARD winner.(JP) 2019: KUKAN DESIGN AWARD 2019 winner.(JP) 2019: Dezeen Awards longlist nominate (UK) 2020: CafeRes Design Award 2020 winner.(JP) 2020: A’ Design Award & Competition 2020 Silver Award.(ITA) 2020: LOOP Design Awards winner. 2020: OPAL Award 2020 winner. 2021: MUSE DESIGN Award 2021Silver Award. (US) 2021: DNA Paris Design Award winner.(FR) 2021: Architecture MasterPrize winner.(US) 2021: SIT Furniture Design Award?CH)Interior Design of the Year 2021: LIV Hospitality Design Awards 2021 winner. (CH) 2021: OPAL Award 2021 winner. (UK) 2021: IDA Design Awards 2021 Bronze. (US) 2021: LICC Design Awards 2021 Shortlist. (US) 2022: Dezeen Awards longlist nominate (UK) 2022: Design Studio Mag Award TOP 5.(ITA) 2022: OPAL Award 2022 winner. (UK) 2023: KUKAN DESIGN AWARD 2023 winner.(JP) 2024: Selected as one of 33 spatial designers to watch in Japan. 2024: London Design Awards Silver winner.
