Hiroshima’s city center is bustling with trendy restaurants and shops, with even more retail and accommodation developments planned. To maximize the building’s profitability, the architect made full use of the narrow, elongated site spanning approximately 35 tsubo (about 115.7 square meters), a plot shape typical of urban areas. This approach minimized wasted space and resulted in a practical, rational building design that also aspires to become a local landmark.
The building’s structure is straightforward, perfectly fitting the site’s shape. An opening on the opposite side of the street-facing façade ensures privacy from the road, a crucial feature for accommodation facilities. The ground-floor commercial space is equipped with skylights to provide ample natural light throughout the day.
From a design perspective, the architect added an external spiral emergency staircase at the building’s front—a practical and legally required feature. This spiral staircase, with its handrail-defined space, introduces an organic softness to the building’s otherwise rigid rectangular form, giving it a distinctive and memorable character.
Night view of the building
△ Plan view
Project Information
Project Type: Hotel, Retail
Location: Hiroshima City, Japan
Architect: CAPD
Area: 403 m²
Year: 2020
Photographer: Kazunori Nomura
Design Team: Kazuo Monnai, Hirokazu Ohara, Dai Tsunenobu, Kazuya Masui
Planning and Management: Breakfast
Construction: TS HAMAMOTO
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