NIGIN: hospitality as an architectural and sensory experience

Suspended between tradition and modernity, NIGIN overlooks Amanohashidate, one of Japan's most poetic landscapes, transforming hospitality into a contemplative experience. Between light, matter, and landscape, the project engages with nature in a perfect balance of intimacy and openness

The essence of the place resonates in the spaces

Born from the sensitivity of Kenzo Makino & Associates, NIGIN is located in the northern part of Kyoto prefecture, overlooking the famous Amanohashidate. This hospitality project interprets the territory with respect and measure, blending landscape and architecture in a perceptual continuum. Among the most refined contemporary architectural projects in Japan, NIGIN stands out for the constant dialogue between light, materials, and horizon. The arrangement of the four villas that are the protagonists of the project and the common spaces follows the natural lines of the coast, inviting guests to a sensory immersion in the tranquility of Miyazu Bay, where every built element emerges as an extension of the landscape.

Intimate spaces and shapes in dialogue with nature

The four independent villas and the management building make up a microcosm of silence and harmony. Each villa, with a private pool, outdoor bathroom, and sauna, accommodates up to four guests, offering a tailor-made stay experience. The spatial configurations vary: Villa A opens its front towards Amanohashidate, Villa B is articulated around a central courtyard, Villa C arranges its spaces in a linear sequence, while Villa D connects the upper room directly with the lower pool. This diversity of composition generates a unique experience in each unit, maintaining a sense of visual coherence and narrative fluidity in the architectural ensemble.

Materials, proportions, and landscape coherence

The architecture of NIGIN achieves a balance between continuity and variation: gentle sloping roofs, carefully calibrated eaves depths, and measured heights ensure a coherent profile while preserving the uniqueness of each villa. Materials such as traditional tiles and porcelain stoneware tiles harmonize with local landscape regulations, respecting the understated beauty of the Amanohashidate coast. Orthogonal walls facing the sea establish rhythm and order, seamlessly extending between interior and exterior spaces. Every detail, from floors to bathrooms, follows a strict modular alignment, emphasizing the precision of the design gesture and the material continuity of the work.

Privacy, openness, and poetry of space

Along the coastal pedestrian promenade, the project elegantly addresses the tension between openness and intimacy. The floor levels are slightly raised to ensure privacy, while calibrated parapet walls block external views while maintaining clear sightlines towards the pine forest and the bay. This balance between protection and transparency creates a serene and meditative atmosphere, where architecture becomes a tool for introspection. Through the variation of spatial sequences and light control, NIGIN offers guests not just a stay, but an experience of reconnecting with nature, inviting them to return.

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PEOPLE

Kenzo Makino & Associates

Kyoto, Japan