Hospitality Design - May 2021 - 67

Photos by TOMOHIRO SAKASHITA

The building's residential past is
honored through its traditional layout

" Every ryokan was carefully curated by the aruji, the head of
house, " says Zecha, noting how all elements, whether the tokonoma
(the reception room alcove displaying artwork), the catch of the day,
or the seasonal mountain herbs, " pointed toward the endless pursuit
of harmony and human touch. "
Seven decades later, these memories remain fresh in the tireless
Zecha's mind, and he honors this attention to detail-and evolves
his work at Aman-with Azumi, his newest brand founded with
Yuta Oka of Naru Developments, in modern-day ryokans suffused
with warmth and a sense of peace. The notion of an inn, explains
Zecha, is ultimately grounded in the idea that it is " a private place
to stay the night and have a meal. That definition may be somewhat
similar to a home. " There is no hospitality manual found on those
premises, he adds, " yet it is only natural to provide the utmost care
possible to house guests. "
The inaugural 22-room Azumi Setoda opened in March and is
situated on the rural, lemon-sprouting island of Ikuchijima in the
Seto Inland Sea in Japan. Kyoto architect Shiro Miura's design,
the revitalization of a compound that is more than a century old, is
visually arresting in its own right. When the prominent Horiuchi
clan, " one of the most dynamic salt farming and shipping families
in Setouchi, " says Zecha, made its headquarters and private
residence here in the late 1800s, members turned to the best
craftsmen around the country, hiring carpenters from cosmopolitan
Kyoto, for instance, to assemble shoji screens. " The biggest
testament of quality, however, is its durability-the fact that the
estate was in good condition to be restored, rather than rebuilt, 140
years after construction. "
Connecting with the outdoors is also part of Azumi Setoda's
concept, so all guests are treated to their own patches of alfresco
privacy, including gardens or balconies that magnify views of the
enveloping kakine cedar fence. Playing with light and breezes,
the fence weaves through " 12 gardens with different philosophies
behind them, " points out Zecha, including one that maintains
the biodiversity of an original Horiuchi plot. " The design process
in traditional Japanese architecture frequently lacks a top-down
concept, which is what makes it so interesting, " says Zecha. " Design
is created by a bottom-up approach, by listening and feeling each
artisan and natural material's voices. "
After decades in the business, where he has made an indelible
mark and redefined luxury, Zecha's new venture is a reminder that
though " people talk about the new normal a lot, things don't change
that easily. We all need time outside the home [and to experience]
new encounters. " The world, he says, " never gets boring. "

The interiors and furnishings are designed
to optimize views of the internal courtyard

A traditional cedar kakine, or
fence, encircles the property

Each accommodation boasts a connection to
nature thanks to private balconies or gardens

Custom furniture made from locally sourced
Japanese Cypress dresses the guest suites
Hospitality Design - May 2021

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