THE JAPANESE INN REVIEWED BY KENGO KUMA

Exposition Paris

The good Japanese grasp of structure has designed a splendid spa lodge situated on the southern island of Kyushu. Opened in August, KAI Yufuin is a ryokan, a standard Japanese spa inn. The rice terraces are surrounded by the bathhouse and the guesthouse constructing with villa suites scattered around. An exceptional website surrounded by nature: the north aspect is covered by a jagged oak forest; the south aspect is bordered by a valley bathed in morning mist. The japanese aspect faces Mount Yufu, and the western aspect faces the rice terraces. When it comes to architecture, Kuma needed to reflect the standard spatial structure of farmhouses: tataki (a mud entrance), itama (room with parquet flooring), and zashiki (room with tatami). The inside is made from supplies associated to rice fields, comparable to straw and rice, as well as native materials, similar to Japanese cedar, Oita bamboo, and Shichitoi from the Kunisaki Peninsula. The suspensions scattered all through the building are an unique design by Kengo Kuma, where his attention to detail is clear all through.