Hotel Kiro in Hiroshima, Japan by Hiroyuki Tanaka Architects.

The messy junction of cracked tiles and crumbling concrete stands as a seemingly quiet and unassuming moment in Hiroyuki Tanaka Architects’ hotel refurbishment in Hiroshima, Japan. This simple collision of materials can define the very essence of the whole project – a hotel that wholeheartedly embraces the past, constructing a space where “tourists can encounter the ‘real’ Hiroshima”.

Hotel Kiro breathes new life into the shell of an old hospital, creating a minimalist boutique hotel within its existing skeleton. The architects approached the project with sensitivity, aiming to highlight the narrative which once unfolded within its walls. Rather than constructing a refuge from the foreign outside world, they created a space that encourages guests to interact with local culture and people.

The third floor, which once housed the rehabilitation wing, has been transformed into a lounge and bar. A process of polishing and painting to hide the stains of its prior use has been firmly avoided. Instead, architects have “kept traces of the history within this place while developing the surroundings”. 

The rehabilitation pool remains largely intact. The familiar curve of silver safety railings still twist its body along the pool’s edge – however, there is no longer any water to accompany them. Warm leather-wrapped seating and newly injected timber furniture sit alongside the characters which once belonged to the building’s past. The two languages now co-exist within its historical shell, creating a complex and visually stimulating space.

Hotel Kiro speaks with a raw aesthetic, where spaces often feeling unfinished. Extravagant amenities and polished trimming are superseded by compact, private living areas, and large communal areas. These light-filled, welcoming spaces are designed to entice guests from their rooms, encouraging them to explore and experience Hiroshima has on offer. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to start that process with a cocktail in the remains of an old pool – an experience we never knew we wanted so badly!

[Images courtesy of Hiroyuki Tanaka Architects. Photography by Gottingham.]