Hotel Kanra Kyoto: A Fusion of Heritage and Innovation

UDS Ltd. Transforms an Old Educational Facility into a Luxurious Hotel

The city of Kyoto, one of Japan's oldest, is a treasure trove of traditions and artisanal crafts. However, with fewer successors in the industry, there's a risk of these traditions fading away. UDS Ltd. took this as an inspiration to create Hotel Kanra Kyoto, a project aimed at inheriting and passing on the heritage of Kyoto to the next generations. The hotel is established under the mission that all guests KAN - meaning To Experience in Japanese - the spirit of RA - City Of Kyoto - where the beauty, wisdom, and hospitality of Japan are embraced.

The hotel, a former educational facility, has been converted into a luxurious space housing 39 guest rooms, a café and shop, two restaurants, and a spa. The design concept of Heritage And Innovation is reflected in the use of traditional materials and techniques, including a workshop of kintsugi masters, and proposing new ways of their use in contemporary design.

The technical specifications of the hotel are impressive. It is a five-story building with three basement floors, constructed with reinforced concrete. The hotel houses 68 rooms in total, including 39 rooms of expansion. The site area is 1947.81 sq.m., including 1083.29 sq.m. of expansion. The plot area is 1462.42 sq.m., including 936.53 sq.m. of expansion. The total floor area is 9748.07 sq.m., including 6656.87 sq.m. of expansion.

One of the challenges faced by the design team was the renovation of the former educational facility. The existing shell had to be respected, and to create a functional layout, the Machiya-style was appointed. Machiya is a traditional townhouse of Kyoto that has a narrow frontage stretching deep into the lot. Thus, most of the guest rooms are shaped rectangular in plan.

The project, which was carried out from April 2015 to October 2015, has been recognized for its innovative design and contribution to preserving cultural heritage. It was awarded the Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2018. This prestigious award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.