Project

Candeo Hotels Karasuma Rokkaku has received an Honorable Mention in the Renovation category of the prestigious DNA Paris Design Awards, an international design accolade held annually in the vibrant city of Paris, France. This recognition marks the sixth award garnered by Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku.

The hallmark of Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku lies in the redesign of a valuable machiya (townhouse), the former Banke Residence, which is registered as a tangible cultural property of Kyoto City. Our mission has been to honor the vision of its client by preserving and restoring this invaluable traditional architectural gem, breathing new life into it as a splendid and distinctive hotel.

The Banke Residence stands as an exquisite example of machiya architecture, renowned for its opulent layout and interior spaces meticulously crafted by a prosperous merchant. This architectural gem was primarily designed to embody spiritual richness and offer unparalleled comfort, featuring a charming courtyard that allows residents to savor the ever-changing beauty of the seasons.

In the realm of design, the concept embraced for this project seeks to harness and elevate the inherent virtues of the Banke Residence. Here, the preciousness of this historical treasure is likened to the brilliance of a jewel, and the interiors are adorned with glittering decorations reminiscent of bijoux (jewelry). This approach seamlessly marries the splendor of Kyoto’s traditional crafts and ornaments with a modern sensibility, resulting in a harmonious fusion of the past and the present.

The endeavor to achieve a design that seamlessly integrates with the rich historical surroundings, brimming with iconic buildings and heritage, led to the thoughtful incorporation of elements reminiscent of Japanese-style architecture. The hallmark straight lines of Japanese design were skillfully employed, complemented by a palette inspired by travertine hues, warm pink and intricate bronze detailing. The outcome is a space that presents an unexpected fusion of Western aesthetics within a traditional context. The inclusion of walnut further enhances the overall sense of opulence.

In addition to the meticulous design, new spaces like a library and a bar have been thoughtfully introduced to offer guests an opportunity to immerse themselves in and appreciate every facet of Kyoto’s historical machiya and its deep-rooted traditional culture. In essence, this establishment operates as a cultural facility where visitors can both stay and partake in a rich cultural experience.

DNA Paris Design Awards 2023

The DNA Paris Design Awards, held in the vibrant city of Paris, France, serves as a prestigious platform for recognizing exceptional designers across various domains, encompassing architecture, interior design, landscape design, graphic design, and product design. This distinguished accolade was established through the collaborative efforts of the Farmani Group and In Between, a dynamic creative collective dedicated to nurturing and celebrating exceptional design talent on a global scale.

Awarded Project Overview

Property：Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku
Category：INTERIOR DESIGN – Renovation

GARDE actively participates in numerous national and international awards annually, with a steadfast commitment to showcasing the excellence of its spaces and designs, even after the completion of property projects. This dedication underscores GARDE’s unwavering pursuit of design excellence and innovation.

Polène, a distinguished brand hailing from Paris, specializes in crafting leather goods. Since its establishment in 2016, Polène has been retailing its products through both a flagship store and an online platform. After making its way into the Japanese market in 2020 through online sales, the brand is now gearing up to launch its very first flagship store in Asia this year.

In this project, GARDE has held a pivotal role, overseeing the local architectural aspects, including the fundamental and execution designs, project management, and the construction itself.

The design of the new Polène store, like its counterparts in Paris and New York, has been envisioned by the French designer Valériane Lazard. While the core essence of Polène’s identity remains intact, this Tokyo store will also incorporate unique elements inspired by the city, such as fixtures with urushi lacquer touches, infusing a Japanese aesthetic.
The interior ambiance of the store has been meticulously curated, featuring highlights like large-scale midnight blue art glass, a creation of the French glass artist Emmanuel Barrois. Leather-crafted ceiling light fixtures and staircase railings, along with walls finished in sand plaster with subdued tones, collectively contribute to an environment that truly encapsulates the Polène experience.

♦About Polène
Founded in 2016 by a trio of siblings, the French House of Polène has gained recognition for its collection of fine leather goods and jewelry. These creations boast original forms that beautifully marry the minimalist approach with creative expression, all masterfully crafted by skilled artisans. The meticulous handcrafting process takes place in Ubrique, a Spanish city renowned for its rich heritage in leather craftsmanship.

For further details, you can explore Polène’s official platforms:
Polène EC Store：https://jp.polene-paris.com/
Tokyo Store：https://jp.polene-paris.com/blogs/stores/tokyo
Press Release：https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000004.000122219.html

Photographs courtesy of Polène.

For other projects that GARDE has been involved in, please visit the following link:
https://garde-intl.com/top.php?lang=en

CASETiFY is a smartphone case and tech accessory brand that gained popularity on social networking sites after its customizable smartphone cases and Apple watch bands became a hot topic among celebrities and influencers in Japan and abroad.

GARDE was responsible for the design, local architecture, and construction of two projects: Amu Plaza Hakata, the first store to open in the Kyushu area, and Osaka, the first flagship store in the brand’s history.

■CASETiFY STUDiO AMU PLAZA HAKATA

Amu Plaza Hakata is an eye-catching space with CASETiFY monogram and logo sign.

To promote a global environmentally friendly approach, “RECASETiFY” boxes are set up to collect used phone cases, not only the company’s own products, which can be recycled.

Open Date：March 3, 2023
Address：1F 1-1 Hakata station chuogai, Hakata, Fukuoka-city, Fukuoka.
TEL：092-260-3953
Business Hours：10：00～20:00 (Business hours may vary.)
https://www.casetify.com/visit-us/jp/amu-plaza-hakata

■CASETiFY OSAKA

CASETiFY’s world’s first flagship store opens in Shinsaibashi.

The store, with a total sales floor space of 103.7㎡, was designed by world-renowned architect André Fu. The design pays homage to Japanese tradition and craftsmanship, harmonizing with CASETiFY’s stylish and creative impression to create a space that is finished to perfection.

Open Date：June 23, 2023
住所：2-8-2, Shinsaibashi-suji, Chuo-ku, Osaka
TEL：06-4256-2958
Business Hours：10：00～21:00 (Business hours may vary.)
https://www.casetify.com/visit-us/jp/osaka-shinsaibashi

■CASETiFY
https://www.casetify.com/

Image Source:CASETiFY

SThree K.K. is a global recruitment firm specializing in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field. Establishing their first office in London, SThree K.K. now has 44 offices in 15 countries around the world. GARDE was involved in the interior design, construction supervision, and FF&E coordination of their Tokyo office.

The office is located in a modern building connected to the Kabuki theater in the heart of the historical Ginza area. This contradiction sets the scene for the unveiling of this exciting workplace conceived and built in less than 6 months. The diverse and inclusive brand message of the company is captured through a multi-cultural design theme expressing strength in the sum of its parts.

The concept is inspired by the fusion of Western and Japanese culture into an open agile working environment that focuses on recruitment for the STEM industries. The project is highlighted by an ambient reception space with spot-lighted sub brands and a collection of minimalist meeting rooms. A futuristic portal then transports you to a cozy social hub complete with a billiard table, pub bar, and poker table expressing the Client’s deep UK roots.

A video of the completed office can be viewed at the following link.
click here

■Project Director Profile
Christopher Brooks, AIA
International Design Division, General Manager, Design Director，American Institute of Architects (AIA), Master’s degree in Architecture.

He has experience in retail, office and residential design in the United States, Japan, and other parts of Asia. His key projects are the restaurant ADD in Marco Polo Hotel Hong Kong, Bandai Namco Studios Headquarters, adidas Japan Headquarters (Asia Pacific Property Awards 2015), and MetLife Japan Headquarters (Herman Miller Liveable Office Award, IDA Gold & Silver awards 2018).

■Project Team
Nagisa Miura, Naoto Sudo, Francesco Ristori, Takanori Tsukiyasu, Daisuke Suzuki

■Scope of work
Interior Design, Construction Supervision, FF&E coordination

■Property Information
Name: SThree K.K. (Office design)
Location: Kabukiza Tower 9F, Ginza 4-12-15, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Store area: 1,315㎡

GARDE designed the clubhouse for BAKER CIRCLE ONE, the first phase of Baker Circle, a large redevelopment complex project in the Hong Ham area by Henderson Land, the No. 1 developer in Hong Kong. GARDE designed the clubhouse for BAKER CIRCLE ONE.

The clubhouse, based on the concept of “Blooming”, employs elements with a “Japanese” feel. We designed a minimalist, fresh shared space.

On June 21 (Tue), a large-scale press conference was held for the Hong Kong media, and GARDE’s President Mr. Muro and design director, Mr. Saito, participated remotely on behalf of GARDE.

We then interviewed the design director, Arata Saito, who was in charge of the design of BAKER CIRCLE ONE’s clubhouse.

■About the design concept

First, the client asked us if we could create a design with a Japanese motif. Since a normal reproduction of a Japanese space in Hong Kong would be too colorful, we decided to provide an unusual design with Japanese elements.

In this context, we have designed an elegant space that is wrapped in an organic atmosphere such as a flower petal, while using the shades of light as the key concepts. It is a space where you can feel the 365 days of time pass and the changing of the seasons. The soft and elegant curves of the petals were used as a motif to create a fluid and gentle atmosphere through the use of materials, colors,and lighting.

For example, we did not use very strong lighting, but, rather, used a lot of indirect light. The walls and ceilings were kept as simple as possible, and the shadows of petals and greenery cast by the indirect light spread over them, giving the space a deep, restful feeling.

Of course, each season is influenced by the environment, but we hope that you will see this as a plus and enjoy experiencing each moment created by the changing seasons and time.

■Baker Circle One Clubhouse Design Features

We designed each of the three buildings as shared spaces with different functions and purposes so that friends, family, and residents can use them in their own way and with their own hobbies and interests.

Indoors, there are cultural activities such as a yoga space and library. Outdoor activities include a rooftop garden, fruit garden, BBQ site, playground, and activities such as a rooftop garden, fruit garden, BBQ site, playground, and urban farm, making it a unique and highly satisfying space.

■About Lounge Design

We have designed lounges for each of the three buildings. In this issue, we will discuss the lounge designs for two of the three buildings.

The design of the first building (Top Image), with its beautiful cherry blossom trees that seem to depict the life force of nature as is, is impressive. By eliminating the boundary between the outdoors and the indoors, we planned the space to be as spacious and rich as possible within the narrow living environment of Hong Kong.

In addition, in order to fulfill the various needs of users, the wall side is designed as a multi-function wall. This is a place where the sharing of space is strongly emphasized due to the diverse use of the space.

The staircase leading to the rooftop garden on the third floor has a bold curved design that expresses the softness of the space.

Next, the design of the second building (Image 1) was designed with the intention of creating a more Japanese feel, and the use of latticework, as well as andon-style wall surfaces, and rough-finished stones further emphasize the shadows.

By daring to switch the design of the flooring and the ceiling, we created a space where people can spend time comfortably and feel a sense of peace by giving the space a sense of liveliness.

■About Yoga Room Design

We designed a yoga room as one for cultural activities. The large windows overlooking all four sides allow plenty of natural light to pour in, while the low-brightness lighting and curvilinear design of the ceiling create a sense of openness and soft light that softly envelops the body and mind.
In addition, the warmth of the wood flooring may be described as a “yoga space in the sky” that relaxes not only the body but also the mind.

■About Library Design

The entire space is unified by the earthy tones, with fin-like wall surfaces, wavy latticework, and skylights that resemble flower petals.
From the ceiling floods a sparkling natural light similar to the brilliance of water, and the balcony space with its lush fruit garden allows you to feel the airiness of the plants. We have created a space where you can experience the luxury of being surrounded by nature while still being in the big city.

■About Art Space Design

The simple wood-based space is filled with soft natural light, and together with the various artworks, we believe that visitors will be able to feel the slow flow of time.
The ceiling is made up of rounded parts, and wooden chairs are used to incorporate a playful spirit that reminds us of the free creations we made in our childhood gardens.
We designed this space to be a gentle place where people can forget the hustle and bustle of daily life and calm their minds.

■About Staycation Room Design

With the restrictions of international travel still in place, we designed a space where people can experience “wa”, or Japanese sensibilities, which is an extraordinary experience. By adopting materials that are “wa” in terms of both sight and smell, such as tatami mats, latticework, and washi paper lighting, we were able to express a minimalist, lean, “wa” atmosphere.

■About Gym Space Design

Brilliant outside light pours in through the wide-open windows, and skylights on the exterior portions of the building create a sense of openness. Roman shades were employed to adjust the amount of sunlight.
The wall accented with soft curves is based on the motif of Japanese folding screens. We hope you can feel the “harmony” here as well.

■Desiner Profile
Arata Saito　　 Design Division, Design Department, Design Director, First Class Registered Architect