Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture | The Okura Tokyo

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Temple of Japanese craft, the Okura Tokyo is a luxury hotel that opened in 1962 in Tokyo, Japan. Since its inauguration the hotel has gained international recognition, becoming a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. The historic main wing was demolished in 2015. Renovated by architect Yoshio Taniguchi in 2019. Yoshio Taniguchi, the son of architect Yoshiro Taniguchi, who designed the original Hotel Okura Tokyo, was commissioned with the renovation and the challenge to conceive a new skin for the hotel while preserving at its best the spirit of this iconic realm. The new Okura Tokyo preserves its traditional Japanese beauty, its simplicity and elegance to offer a new experience, between "traditional luxury" and "contemporary luxury".

In this context, where the best known national treasures of Japan showcase their crafts, Lina Ghotmeh was invited by The Okura Hotel and Yoshio Taniguchi, to design two permanent lighting installations and a series of standing lamps: “Wisteria’s Shadow” , “Pyramid of Light” and “Paper Blue”.

Tracing the spirit of the wisteria flower, “Wisteria’s Shadow” is located at the majestic entrance of the Okura Heritage wing of the hotel. The lighting installation is drawn like an appearance, a fragile shadow revealing the shape of a precious flower – wisteria - that had once composed the designs in this hotel. A timeless installation, paying tribute to this magnificent Japanese-native Wisteria flower blossoms. This installation is composed of more than 2400 lightly toned purple crystals suspended along the suspended staircase leading towards the Japanese restaurant of the hotel. Delicately twinkling as it captures light, the crystals echo both the iconic shape of wisteria and a dole of birds flying against the colored clouds composing the large artwork set against the surface of this beautiful hall.
“Pyramid of Light” is an inverted pyramidal space composed of light. It invites the visitors to dwell within a “French flair”; echoing Versailles’ hall of mirror prior to entering “la Nouvelle époque” Michelin starred French restaurant of Okura. 766 crystals are all installed at measured increments, light up and reveal materiality of reflections. The installation reveals the iconic hotel’s simplicity and contemporary elegance while preserving its tradition.

“Paper Blue” is a series of stand lamps installed in the VIP cigar bar of the hotel. Their cylindrical form echoes the origin of stand lamps. They are all wrapped with a gold leafed klein blue washi paper. These are custom-made by the French craftsman François Xavier Richard.

The three works accompany one’s light promenade in this hotel with beauty and poetics.

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