Creators from Japan and abroad have come together to revitalize Maebashi with the desire to "revitalize the streets of Maebashi. On the site of the former Shiroiya Inn, which closed its doors after more than 300 years of history, a new art and food culture destination has been born, where residents and visitors alike can gather and interact with each other. It is.
In August 2016, Maebashi City announced its vision "Mebuku. Since then, attractive shops and community spaces have gradually sprung up in the once declining central city area of Machinaka, and the Maebashi Model is attracting attention as a model for revitalizing the core regional city. The Shiroiya Hotel is located in the center of the city and was created as an "art destination" to stimulate the imagination of visitors. Architect Sou Fujimoto was responsible for the overall design of the hotel. It consists of two buildings: the Heritage Tower, a bold renovation of the former Shiraiya building, and the Green Tower, which was built on the bank of the old Tone River. A variety of artworks are displayed on the premises and in the guest rooms, including installations by Leandro Erlich, in response to the architecture. In terms of dining, guests can enjoy a variety of surprising culinary experiences under the supervision of Michelin-starred chef Hiroyasu Kawate, from the RESTAURANT, a main dining room that makes the most of the gastronomic culture and ingredients of the region, to the LOUNGE, a casual all-day dining venue. The hotel is also just a 30-minute drive to Mt. Akagi and Mt. Haruna, where guests can enjoy nature and hot springs. The Shiroiya Hotel will stimulate the imagination of visitors to the hotel, offering an array of experiences in art, architecture, design, food, town and nature.
The Shiroiya Hotel is one of the answers to the question of how to create a fundamentally new urban space for Japan's leading architect, Sou Fujimoto. This heritage tower has an impressive vaulted ceiling, which exposes the concrete structure of a long-established ryokan. It is a symbol of Maebuku's vision of Maebuku. The Green Tower is a symbol of Maebuku, the vision of Maebuku, and is shaped like the bank of an old river. Sou Fujimoto will lead the architectural and interior design of these two buildings and collaborate with various designers and artists to make them a gathering place and a living room for residents and visitors to Maebashi.
At the Shiroiya Hotel, creative architecture and an array of art and design are evident throughout. Lawrence Winner's eye-catching art on the facade on the Route 50 side of the hotel and Hiroshi Sugimoto's "Seascape" greets guests at the front desk upon entering the hotel. The fourth-floor atrium of the Heritage Tower is home to a variety of artworks, including Leandro Erlich's "Lighting Pipes," a fantastically lit piece by the permanent collection of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa and the exhibition at the Mori Art Museum. The hut at the top of the Green Tower houses Tatsuo Miyajima's artwork, which can only be experienced by guests of the hotel. All of the guest rooms in the Heritage and Green Towers will feature unique artworks by Gunma-based artists and works carefully selected for the opening of the hotel from around the world.
The Heritage Tower has four special rooms by renowned British designer Jasper Morrison, Italian architectural masters Michele De Lucchi, Leandro Erlich and Sosuke Fujimoto. Each of these rooms is a one-of-a-kind space, designed from the ground up by the artists as if each room were a work of art. The other rooms are designed by Sou Fujimoto, and the color palette is subdued, with a focus on materials and details.
The Green Tower rooms have a balcony, which creates a sense of unity with the plants that cover the tower. The bed mattresses are made of the SARTA brand, which is used by luxury hotels in Japan and abroad, and the curtains are designed by Yoko Ando, who works as a textile designer and coordinator, and the furnishings are carefully selected by Tomomi Nagayama, a stylist. Each room is decorated with a different piece of art, and staying in a different space each time is one of the most exciting parts of the repeater's stay. The hotel places a strong emphasis on environmental and hygiene issues and minimises the use of plastic and vinyl packaging. In addition, the mini-bar offers complimentary soft drinks and "snowflake water," a famous local water source. When the LOUNGE on the first floor is open, you can choose from the lounge's drink menu to enjoy room service.
