After 300 years of business Shiroiya Inn closed its doors in 2008. Creatives from Japan have come together to revitalize the place located two hours driving north of Tokyo and create the Shiroiya Hotel, set to open its doors in December this year.
Sou Fujimoto was responsible for the overall design of the hotel consisting of two structures; The Heritage Tower and the Green Tower. The Heritage Tower, a renovation of the former Shiraiya Inn, houses 17 rooms, and the Green Tower houses 8 rooms covered in a green roof.
The hotel features a restaurant and a lounge that display a number of artworks like Leandro Erlich's Lighting Pipes inside the fourth-floor atrium. Sou Fujimoto collaborated with a number of artists and designers to shape the interiors. The textual facade art was made by Lawrence Winner.
Four special rooms in the Heritage Tower were designed by Jasper Morrison, Michele De Lucchi, Leandro Erlich and one by Sou Fujimoto. The remaining rooms were designed in a recognizable minimalistic white style by Sou Fujimoto with a subtle color and material palette.
In the Green Tower each room has a balcony overlooking the green roof. Stylist Tomomi Nagayama selected the furnishings and each room has a unique piece of art.
