 Hiroshi Nakamura‘s Bella Vista SPA & Marina Onomichi project offers an architectural experience that blends traditional and modern aspects of Japanese architecture with nature.
The restaurant is part of a resort overlooking the inland sea.
The project consists of a new dining area of ​​36m x 6.8m and a renovated kitchen-dining area. Located between the ocean and the mountains, the architecture is open to both.
Hiroshu Nakamura’s idea was to create a generous space with a roof just above the seating area, like a pergola in the garden, offering pleasant breezes and open views. Half of the space is surrounded by a glass fixture, so you feel like you’re dining outside.
“To prevent the space from becoming dull, the roof structure had to be warm and delicate. We decided to gently embrace people with beams made of red pine, which is common in the region and therefore fits the restaurant’s concept of local production for local consumption.”
“One arrow can be broken easily, but three together cannot be broken.” This idea was put forward by Mori Motonari, one of the leading daimyo of the region, and we decided to reflect this regional story in the roof structure.
Three types of beams measuring 22.5 x 45 mm, 45 x 45 mm and 22.5 x 60 mm are arranged at 450 mm intervals. The frame is built with the craftsmanship of the traditional furniture industry in the region, creating a delicate and soft structure consisting of approximately 1600 roof frames in total. The beautiful evening sun enters through the high windows at the top of the shingle gable roof, illuminating the time around sunset.
A deep, low canopy added to the existing building invites guests to the kitchen-dining area. Inside, guests can see a clean stainless steel kitchen, stools placed lower than the kitchen counter and a large oven in the middle. Guests sit next to the kitchen and eat next to the chefs.
Bella Vista Spa & Marina Onomishi Deck, Lounge & Mosaic Terrace
Hiroshu Nakamura, extended the wooden deck to hide various views such as the vegetation in front of the sea and to emphasize the horizon. By placing the stairs in the foreground, he placed a long pool in the middle extending towards the sea to create the feeling of a big stage in front of the sea and directed the line of sight to nature and beyond.
Then, to create a comfortable accommodation area even outdoors, the centers of the decks on both sides were carved into a fireplace area. Walls were provided on both sides to create a closed atmosphere.
“At the same time, I wanted to create a sense of openness befitting a resort. I decided to make openings in the wall resembling windows. Windows are traditionally located at the border between the interior and exterior. There is no functional meaning in adding a window to a wall exposed to rain. However, the act of looking at beautiful views through a window is one of the most basic behaviors people perform in hotels and resorts. Here, I thought that a resort-like experience could be created by opening a window in a contemporary way.
Born in Tokyo in 1974 and growing up in Kamakura and Kanazawa, Hiroshi Nakamura completed his master’s degree in architecture at Meiji University Graduate School of Science and Technology in 1999. After graduating, he joined Kengo Kuma & Associates and founded Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP in 2002. In addition to being a Visiting Professor at Meiji University Graduate School of Science and Technology, he is also a NAP Advisor, representing NAP International and NAP Design Studies, dealing with a wide range of fields from urban development to furniture. His philosophy is to create an organic relationship between architecture, nature and the human body through “microscopic design” that draws on natural phenomena, human behavior and emotions. Furthermore, he aims to create “architecture that can only be found there” by working in harmony with the region’s history, culture, industry, materials and other unique features. In recent years, he has found the essence of his design philosophy in traditional Japanese architecture and garden culture, and has been actively involved in their reconstruction.