Minshuku Eyoru (A2 Interior Design Unit 4)

民 宿

絵 。 夜

DESIGN BRIEF RESEARCH DESIGN IDEAS

4–5 6 – 19 20 – 31

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

32 – 39

CAD MODELS

40 – 43

FINAL DESIGN INTERIOR

44 – 69

FINAL DESIGN EXTERIOR (EXAM)

70 – 75

PROJECT EVALUATION

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Referring to the exam theme of “truth, fantasy or fiction”, I had decide to research in different directions base on words which have a relation to the topic. As a theme for an architectural/ interior design project, I believe that the word truth means that the idea should fit the reality of its environment and audiences. This could be by having a suitable form that merges into its location, by using the place’s materials and style; this will also affect the scale and colour of the design, in order to stop it from being a dominance in the location. On the other hand, I believe that the word “truth” can represent the idea of “true enjoyment”, which can provide a suitable space for the audiences to use. In order to create this, I will have to think about what my audiences will want, depending on their needs and situation at the location. This means that the use of research will strongly affect the decisions of the design, depending on both the form and functions of the building.

In order to create a architecture design that provides “true enjoyment”, I think that a hotel design will be a suitable decision. This is due to how travels will always want to stay in a place where they can both enjoy entertainment and also relax. But instead of creating a hotel that needs to serve a large amount of audience, I believe that a “Minshuku” style hotel (similar to the English Bed & Breakfast Hotel) will be more suitable. This is because there will be a stronger focus for the needs of each single audiences, which increases the amount of enjoyment that the hotel can provide.

Referring to the ideas of “Love Hotel” in Japan, I think that it is very interesting for each rooms in a hotel could be base on a different style and theme, which increase the options and interests for the visitors to choose form. I believe that history and culture of the environment could be an example which I can think about, as it creates a strong relation between the building and its location.

And as a relation to the ideas of fantasy and fiction, this could also be applied to the style of the interior design, which will be suitable for young age members from the audience’s family. As this idea could be linked to a lot of different possibilities, I will need to refine the ideas through the process of researching – this will affect the functions and facilities inside my hotel, including the amount of rooms and scale of space use. On the other hand, I will also need to think about where the hotel is located at, since the environment will defiantly affect both the design of the building, and also the enjoyments of the visitors.

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In order to suit the needs of a connection from the hotel design to a natural environment, I had decide to choose Tai Mei Tuk as my building location. This is because it is a famous tourism site that contains both ocean and forest around, which can provide a connection between the audiences and the location. The actual land which I had decide to use is located near the beach and the BBQ centre, which allow the audiences to rest after enjoying all the entertainments around the area.

While designing the building, I will have to make sure that the surface of the land had been redesigned, in order for the audiences to walk on a comfortable path between the hotel to other locations (including streets, restaurants and shops etc.). The safety issues about the beach and sea waves will also be important to think about, as this could affect the forms and materials of the hotel.

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Referring back to my ideas towards the exam theme, “truth” were usually been found in the reality due to a continues exploration and investigation. This makes me to realise the importance of non-stopping, in order to find the clue of the situation. And this is why I had decide to use the word “connection” as my starting point, due to how there are always links between the start and the end.

These are a set of primary photos which I had took base on lines and forms which contains connection to each other. Some of them are linked to another feature, but there are also forms that are connected to it’s own body – this creates a continues pattern, similar to the ideas of a eternal sign.

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Except from the photos of connected forms, I had also did primary research which are based on existing architecture and space. I had drawn some building ideas that contains the features from my visual research, since I believe this is a suitable way to start my ideas with. Relating to the ideas of building connections, I think that these photos shows me the different ways of showing links between areas, features and spaces.

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Referring to the design brief, I had decide to gather a range of photographs about the styles of both traditional Japanese and Chinese building features. These are important in order to apply the elements of culture inside my Minshuku style hotel, which contains a completely different style to the modern designs.

The main use of material inside this culture house, is based on a mixture of woods and bamboo. This affects the general structure of the building design, such as the use of columns between the spaces, the maximum height of the building design, and also cause a differences depending on where it is located at.

Inside this set of photos, I believe that the use of windows and doors is the main features which represents the cultural ideas. The use of slide functions can safe the need of space, especially for building that had been layout close to each other in a location. This can also make the surface of the building to look visually smooth and flat, as nothing is sticking out from the wall surfaces.

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On the other side, the use of natural landscape and gardening shows the relation between the design to its traditional culture plus religion. The main colours used across the design and brown, red, green and white – these represents the idea of how the building design has a relation to its environment, represented the strong believes inside the Japanese cultural.

I think that the traditional elements inside the design could be possibly combined with my theme of connection, including the use of different wood materials and its layout. These existing buildings will help me to see how the Minshuku style hotel can include enough amount of the historical style, while also fitting the needs of the modern customers.

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These are some primary photographs of a range of traditional Japanese features and objects. I believe that it is important to apply these cultural ideas into my design, no matter by interior or exterior – since it is an aim for the visitors to feel the differences between a normal hotel and a traditional Minshuku.

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When thinking about the ideas of connection inside a building, I first remember the use of stairs which allows the audiences to travel from one floor to another. This is why I had research on these existing stairs design.

From the images, I can see that some of them are designed to save the use of spaces, but there are also designs that contain special styles which relates to its environment theme. On the other hand, I think that the use of shadows also increase the visual view of the stairs, even if they are only made by pure rectangle wood pieces.

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From the observations of the use of connections between one room to another, I had drawn these sketches that shows a set of redesigns base on the existing spaces. I believe that the different angles of the stairs had helped me to build a stronger understanding.

On the other hand, these will be useful when I design the hotel, as it will defiantly contain a certain amount of floors. This means that the link between each area and rooms will need to have a sensible use of connections, in order to give the visitors a comfortable travel experience.

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These are a set of research base on existing interior features, mainly due to how their forms are very interesting or creative. They are all designed with different colour schemes and materials, but still have follow a general luxury theme. On the other hand, certain features in these images had been build by use a mixture of natural features, such as Bonsai and wood.

The combination of straight and curve designs applies styles into the interior, and combining to the use of light and shadows, these will create patterns to the area. These decoration increase the style and interest of the interior design.

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These are some drawings based on the redesign of the toilet‘s functions. I had decide to produce these as it is a important service inside the rooms of the hotel.

The use of natural features including wooden texture and rocks had been applied as decorations to the different surfaces, which adds the natural believes of the Japanese culture with the modern interior design.

These two drawings had shown the toilet in different angles, and they contain the same use of style and features, which shows the connection between the whole toilet design.

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In order to have enough knowledge about the designs of existing hotels, I had visit this four star hotel which is located in London. By looking at the exterior of the building, I specially like how the use of colour blocks had been place between the edges of the windows, which adds a warm colour scheme over the blue building surface. These decorations had contain a certain transparency, which can create coloured reflections with the use of sunlight.

The form of the building is completely smooth due to its curved glass surfaces, which allows all the rooms inside the hotel to have a view to the outside. Due to the balance design of the wall, it also makes it easier while designing the interior, since all the rooms can contain a similar size and layout.

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Exterior sketches

Patterns over the wall surfaces

Interior sketches

Exterior entrance

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These are the functions and layout of the features inside a five star hotel room, which contains bed, sofa, wine bar, clothes hangers, toilet and bathroom. The first thing which I like in this room is the large entrance, which allows the audiences to place shoes or wet umbrellas on the floor, before entering the clean carpet area.

The whole room is mainly separated into three parts, the entertainment area, the sleeping area and the bath room, which the use of moveable walls had separated the areas with enough amount of open space and connections. In order to provide the audiences a comfortable space to use, there are a large free space between all the furniture which are located at the side.

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Another special part of this designed room is how the toilet and bath room is located near the windows, unlike usual hotels which have a closed area. This allows the audiences to enjoy the view even when bathing, while there are enough amount of privacy due to the height of the building. And depending on the audience’s need, the windows contain automatic curtains that can be directly control by one button, this saves the audience’s time, similar to how the amount of lights can be adjust by the switches near the bed.

Plan Drawing

Also by having both a shower and a bathtub, it allows the audiences to choose which type of washing they would like to enjoy – this can also be easier for families who contain children, as the parents might need to help them for bathing. These ideas of the bathroom design will be useful when thinking about the interior of my hotel.

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These are some 3D forms base on the idea of how one piece of bended paper could become a continues pattern. I had this inspiration from the connection forms in my primary research, which is why I had start to create these small forms. I had then look into the details and shapes in different angles, in order to draw out a set of sketches which shows the possibilities of how the building could look like. These had then be used as the starting points of creating my own model.

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These are a set of model arrangements, which all the paper features are connected with each other. The use of flexible curves had been bend about parts of the model, which creates external patterns that decorates the wall. On the other hand, solid pieces of walls had form the main structure of the model, which makes the building to become reliable.

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Between the overlapped paper features, I found that lights and shades could be another element that shows an a connection between different parts of a building, since the different shadows around the building might join together depending on the directions of light. On the other hand, this also create interesting patterns over the building surface, even if it is made by a single color.

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Referring to these paper models, I had produce drawings which shows how certain parts of each photograph could build into a new idea for my hotel. This had been produced by using thin pen, since as a starting model, I only want to look at the lines and forms. This is why I had choose to use pure and clean paper to make this model, since allows me to limits the focus point on what my hotel could actually looks like, where as functions and decoration can be develop in the later process.

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These are some fragmented chocolate forms which I had decide to observe on. I had come up with this idea due to how the process of melting and freezing chocolate had contain a strong idea about connection. By looking at the broken edges of the chocolate, I think that it shows a strong juxtaposition to the smooth surfaces, which is why I felt very interesting about these forms.

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While looking at the forms of chocolate pieces, I felt interesting on its flexible changes between different temperatures. I think that the liquid and solid forms had contain unpredictable connections, which could be manipulated into forms of my model. This is why I had created these set of models based on the use of curve surfaces and features.

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As a connection to the natural environment, I had think about how the use of curved forms could be represent with the ideas of wooden surfaces. This is why I had choose to use brown color card to create this set of models. Compare to the first model design, this idea had contain a larger amount of curved features that could become a part of the building structure. This allows the smooth curves to be actually useful for the building design, instead of only being un-useful decorations.

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These are another set of model ideas, which the features are more closer together. It allows the building to contain a heavier visual effect compare to the friable arrangements from earlier. This then allows me to imagination the interior functions more easily, as there are less gaps between the layout of features.

I believe that the birds eye view of the models shows a successful idea of connection, as it is visually clear how each of the areas are linked together by smaller features. Overall, I think that the surface of the model feels like if it is actually created by chocolate, since the smooth surfaces and light reflections had improved its general feeling of pure texture.

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Similar forms which contains the natural texture and bended gaps

In order to see how the space inside this model could be use for interior functions of my hotel, I had produced a set of drawings using brown fine liners. This shows the connection between the natural, from the use of chocolate, paper to the ideas of wood or bamboo which I might use in my outcome. This drawings helps me to understand how the curved roofs and walls might affect the possible use of shapes, and this means that I should also start to observe on the use of solid forms in my further process, since they contains more use of angles and edges.

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As a juxtaposition to the soft and curved materials, this model is more focus on materials that are very thin and crispy. This makes the process of creating the structure to become quite difficult, as I will need to fold the sheets into layers, in order to turn them into more solid forms.

However, I think that this makes the texture of the model to become quite interesting, as the folded forms had turn into lots of different layers across the design (these patterns contains a strong idea about the use of connection, showing me that thin layers of object can be group into useful structures).

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Views of the building under dark environment

Front and back view under the light in the morning

Ideas of the use of roof over the building

I had present this model of the Minshuku style hotel in the use of black tones, which shows a more clear idea about how the surface of the building would look under the different shades of light through the day time. I believe that this could create a visual differences to the building, especially for a open location at the Tai Mei Tuk beach.

By looking at the weather near the ocean, I should think about the amount of glass which I use across the roof of the building, in order to prevent problems such as over heating in the summer.

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Due to the reasons which I think that the textures of the original model is not as solid enough, I had decide to export the 2D shapes which are inside the models for different angles. This shows the different use of connections from one to another area, and I had also linked the features together in certain ways.

I think that this will be useful for deciding on how the walls and roof of my hotel would look like, relating to the use of building materials that are related to the natural environment. On the other side, these could be combined with the Japanese features inside the interior, such as the use of wooden door, and paper windows.

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As a relation to how the building structure would look like over the forms of my models, I had applied these wooden patterns across the surface.

I had also linked the ideas of the model into a large design, in order to expand the scale and spaces which the hotel might use.

This makes me to think wider about how the rooms of the hotel could be layout as.

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These are model developments base on the mixture of material use. I think that the forms of card strips can show a strong connection from one part to another, which could be use for functions such as entrances and corridors of my hotel. Due to the flexibility of the strips, it allows me to bend the forms around the building, becoming decorations and patterns for the design.

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I had then apply the connection strips across different locations of the model, in order to see how they can be manipulated into further functions such as roof tops, wall surfaces, or even the exterior of the hotel restaurant etc. I think that the use of simple form allows me to see a wider possibilities towards the use of spaces, as there are no limit around the model design.

The surfaces for both of the materials feels related together, due to how the use of natural materials contains a similar color scheme and texture. This allows me to have a strong visual view of how the building would look like, if I decide to use wood as my main material at last.

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These images show the close views of the certain combinations, this helps me to record the details around the whole building, increase the understanding of how each section could be developed in the future.

Inside these ideas, I specially like the design of the roof top on the right hand side, which covers most of the building with its random textures, all connected from the side of the model. I think that this has a visual idea of connection between the whole hotel, which will be suitable for a part of my outcome.

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This idea allows me to see the possibilities of how natural elements can be combined into the surfaces of a model design, which I believe has a strong relationship to my them of connection.

This shows a connection from the model to both the Japanese culture and the environment of the location. I believe that I am going to develop these kind of ideas when designing my final outcome.

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From the roof design which I had observe in model development 1, I had design to use wires to create connected forms base on the design. The use of wires allow me to produce smooth edges between the wires, which juxtapose with the sharp edges from the folded paper.

I had also create similar structure using pipes, which had visually creates a range of sharp twists. By combining both the smooth and sharp forms into one structure, it

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These folded forms had contain strong connections between the use of overlap and cross over. The pipes which pass between the holes of the other pipes had created a balance structure, formed a range of spaces across the model. The use of wires then helps to connect all the separate pipes together, making the model to become steady on the sand environment.

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I had create this CAD design from the cross forms which I had observe base on my research and hand models. The building contains four floors base on the needs of function and spaces.

L3 – Family Rooms

L2 - Rooms

L1 - Japanese Bath

GF - Lobby & Restaurant

Aerial View

Front View

Side View

Back View

Side View

Inside this model, the idea of connection is represented by the layers of walls, which joins each floors of the building together.

These had been separated by the use of grey and green colors, represented how the ideas of modern and nature could be combined. The use of wooden roof cover had contain a similar color to the beach environment, meaning that the building wouldn't look like a dominance from the aerial view. Also, the use of 45 degrees sides around the exterior allows sea wind to past through the gaps of the building, so that the wind won’t create large noises when hitting on the wall surface.

This is another CAD design which I had focus on the use of wood structure, developed from the shapes out of my other models.

These structure helps to hold the building on top of the sandy land surface, while keeping the suitable use of spaces around the exterior.

Due to the gaps between the structure, the shadows would be changing depending on the amount of daylight, which works very suitable to the open location near the sea.

The use of glass around the rooms of the hotel will allow the travelers to view the sea and nature from their rooms, which makes the environment to become its main point. This allows a large amount of natural light to pass into the building, saves energy use in the day time.

However, this might suggest that the building could become very hot especially in summer time, which is when travelers will mainly visit the location.

Front View

Side View

Back View

Side View

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Shape Inspiration From Model Development 5

Plan View

Bento Inspiration

Wooden Design Inspiration

In order to make sure that the design of the building is suitable for a hotel, I decide to start and design the interior space base on the inspiration from the Japanese “Bento� box, which is for storing a range of different food between the gaps. This had inspire me to separate the different spaces of the ground floor by using walls and paper doors.

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Restaurant

Multi Functional Lobby

Bento Inspiration

Kitchen Staff Rest Room Toilets

The ground floor of the hotel building is mainly separated into three spaces, including the main lobby (contains lift, stairs, multifunctional space, sofas, interior garden and reception), the Japanese restaurant (with the kitchen and staff area) and the toilet area. These spaces are separated by using walls, while suitable amount of gaps are available for the audience to walk through. As a relation to the aim of having both traditional and cultural ideas inside the building, the main materials which are used for the interior are wood and bamboo.

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In order to give a comfortable welcome to the visitors who have arrive the location, I had decide to place a large free space inside the main entrance. This provide the audiences a area where they could rest at, no matter if they had just finish their meal or had finish playing at the beach. When the customers step in, they can directly feel the ideas of Japanese culture, which defiantly feels different compare to the other hotels near the surrounding.

To fit the aim of nature, I had applied a range of plant decorations which are suitable for interior use. The mini Japanese garden had also been placed in the resting area, suitable for the audience to take photographs.

The two receptions located near the walls, are for the two types of service – restaurant booking and room services.

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The Japanese Garden and the resting area, free for the victors to use.

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Looking back to the theme of “true connection”, I think that the use of physical connection inside the build is the main part which helps to link the audiences with the hotel. I had decide to decorate the space by using traditional bridges over natural water features, which increase the experience of entering another space from the lobby.

Inside the Japanese culture, the Guzei bridge represents “the bridge to heaven”, which represents how the food in the restaurant in front of the bridge can give the audiences a unforgettable taste.

This bridge had contain a sensible curve and handles, which no matter children or disables could use it with safety.

Lift and stairs are both used for the connection between the ground floor and first floor. And due to the small amount of customers, having one each is enough for the hotel.

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Bridge Inspiration

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When the audiences walk past the Guzei bridge, they will arrive the Japanese Restaurant – Ume. The name “Ume” represent the traditional plum flowers in the Japanese culture; the plant both contains a beautiful view and also delicious taste, which is what I want the customers to feel when they are enjoying their meal.

The restaurant both services the customers who either visit of live in the hotel, but most will need to make a reservation due to the limited amount of sits. This kind of control will help the staffs to make sure that they produce the most sensible amount of food and services to the audiences, always keeping the restaurant‘s quality.

And in the morning, the restaurant will serve breakfast to the audiences who are living in the hotel rooms.

Wooden Design Inspiration Looking at the tables and sits, there are three set of table for four spaces, and five sets of table for eight spaces. This is designed mainly because the hotel is aim for families, this means that the customers who it serves are less likely to be single or couples – which is why large tables are needed.

There are two types of sits which are available for the customers, the traditional Japanese sittings, or the modern days sittings. This could be choose by the audiences depending on their habit and needs.

On the other hand, thinking about how some audience would like to have privacy when they are having their meal, the use of bamboo blocks are suitable to be use near the wall sittings.

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Next to the Japanese restaurant, there is a small corridor which leads the user to the toilet and the kitchen. Due to the limited amount of audiences, I believe that having two separate toilets are enough for being use. Just the same as the decorations in the whole hotel building, the walls of the toilet had also contain traditional Japanese features.

The corridor had contain a wide space for the audiences to walk across or wait, so that they won’t block the path between the kitchen to the restaurant. As decorations, simple use of plants are placed near the wall, which fits the use of natural wood surfaces around the area. This had also applied a new color to the space, instead of only having brown and yellow.

Plan View

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There are enough facilities inside the kitchen for the staffs to use. Also, in order to give a space for them to rest and enjoy their meal, a small resting room is located at the end of the kitchen. This room had contain simple furniture, which means that they can be easily remove in order to store other features. Windows and fire exits are located near this area, in order to prevent any emergency.

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The first floor of the Minshuku hotel have contain facilities for the audiences who are living here. Inside the space, there are five different rooms which are suitable for booking; three of them are normal rooms (with the name “Matsu”), and the other two are large family rooms (with the name “Fuji”). These rooms are all separate from each other, and had contain its own key and doors; this gives a standard amount of security to the room environment.

Other then the rooms, there is a traditional Japanese bath located at the end of the building, which the audiences can use depending on the change of gender time period. Of course, there are two separate changing rooms near the bath.

Bento Inspiration

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Similar to the ground floor, the layout of the spaces and walls had also follow the ideas of the bento box, while this floor had contain more amount of smaller spaces due to the separation of rooms. The types of rooms had contain the same size and shape, showing the idea of balance and equal to the audiences, meaning that all of them are the same important to the hotel (just like all the little dishes inside a bento box). By overlapping the two layers of floors together, the design then looks like a 2 layer bento box, which had stored everything inside one object – this is showing how all the simple needs can be found inside the building of the hotel.

Plan View

Bento Inspiration

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The use of wood and paper doors decoration are the main decorations over the wall surfaces, which can easily remain the audiences about the culture. However, the paper doors are fake, which means that the rooms had only contain one door entrance, having more privacy comparing to the rooms in the olden days. Some of the paper doors are used as hidden cupboards, which allow the staffs to store features for cleaning and emergency.

The two floors are connected by the use of lift and stairs, which the audiences can easily travel between the locations in the building. Around the long corridor, are the door access to the customer’s room. Just the same as the general theme, the doors of the rooms looks similar to the traditional Japanese slide doors; but due to the needs of moving large luggage, the doors had been changed into a double door. This also increase the safety of the room, since it can be lock from the inside. The direction of opening doors are all facing the inside of the room, so that it won’t block the path of the other audiences.

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Matsu Inspiration

Plan View

This is the normal size room of the hotel, named by the word “Matsu” – which stands for the Japanese pine trees inside the culture of Bonsai. This represents the use of green and brown color scheme inside the decorations of this room. The whole idea of the design is to have simple culture furniture's which allows two to four people to stay in, depending on the number of audiences inside a small family.

The whole room is decorated by the use of wood and Tatami (a type of Japanese straw floor covering), which the audiences can easily sit over the floor near the bed. This keeps the floor from getting over heat in the summer days, and the users can feel more cooler while laying on the clean Tatami.

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Depending on the amount of audiences, the amount of bed can be added inside the Tatami area, so that the family can sleep close to each other on a comfortable surface.

These extra facilities are hidden inside the paper door cupboard near the windows, which the audiences can take out after asking the staffs in the hotel.

Also, I had applied a mirror on to the door of the toilet, so that the audience can do make up or changing even when others are using the toilet. This allows the different family members to use the same space for their own needs.

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Plan View

This is the large family room, named by the word “Fuji” – which is the name of the most famous mountain located in Japan. This represent the more expensive use of decoration such as beds, tables, plants, lights and other facilities – these will be able to give the customers a more comfortable experience while living inside the hotel.

On the other hand, there is also a service for them to book a specific time to use the bath by their own, meaning that there are a larger amount of privacy for them to enjoy the bath. Discount for eating in the Ume restaurant will also be given for the families who booked this two rooms, in order to make their enjoyment even better.

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Except of the Guzei bridge which is located at the ground floor, there is also a Japanese white bridge between the room corridor to the traditional bath area. The use of white over the bridge had represented an idea of clean and pure to the audiences, suggesting that the bath can wash off all the physical dirt and negative emotion. In order to make sure that the audiences won’t slid off the bridge due to slippery floor surfaces, this bridge is made by wood instead of smooth rocks.

On the side of the bridge, two lamps are placed in order to show a welcome to the audiences, the use of light colors will be use to show if the bath time is now suitable for male, female or private use, and this will be informed at the start to all of the audiences.

Bridge Inspiration

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Plan View

Although there is only one bath which can be use alternately by the two different genders, but it is always important to have two changing rooms, no matter for safety or privacy. By looking at the suitable amount of space that could fit two small scale changing rooms, I had decide to split the corner of the building by using spiral layered walls. This had successfully split the two changing rooms with the same amount of room use, while the customers on the outside won’t be able to see what is happening in the changing room. This both helps to protect the customer’s privacy and also be fair between the genders.

As the maximum amount of customers which the hotel can serve is around 36 person, only 40 lockers are placed in each changing room. This means that that even if all the customers uses the bath at the same time, there will still be spare lockers available for other use (such as damage repair or staff access).

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This is the bath area, named with the Japanese word “take� (Bamboo). Just like the other rooms, this name is related to the natural features which are specially important in the Japanese culture. This is why the bath area had been decorated by the use of different bamboos.

Plan View

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This public use bath had contain a range of different services, including the large Onsen bath pool, three bamboo bathtubs, pool for washing legs and also three separate shower rooms. This is a bathing area which allows the victors to enjoy the service with the families, making the process of bathing to become an entertainment time.

The main Onsen can fit around fifteen people at the same time, sue to its large scale and liquid storage. Due to the deep design of the pool, stairs are located on the side, in order to provide the audience a easier way to get in, even if they are child. Sitting stone are located inside the side of the pool, so that the audiences can sit and relax their body.

The time period for this bath is separated into a list, in order for both the gender to use alternately. This service is also booking available for the customers who had book the Fuji room, allowing the customers to have a private washing period with their own family.

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These are the overall form of the building, which I am going to follow as a guide while designing the final exterior. The building is formed by two levels, similar to the Japanese Bento Box, while spaces are separated in arrangement of the moveable walls.

The height of each floor might be adjusted when I am making my final models, in order create higher spaces inside the hotel’s room – this will allow the audiences to feel less crowded when communicating with others.

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Plan View

When thinking about how the exterior walls could become interesting base on the square form, I think that the use of unequal pattern will be an interesting way for decoration. These can be develop from my research about the Japanese culture, such as the Ukiyo-e (Painting), Kabuki and Bonsai. These can be combined with the ideas of nature elements, including clouds, plants and sea waves etc. These will be able to develop both the visual design and functions of the hotel.

Side View

The hotel building will generally be build by using wood and bamboo, which follows the traditional Japanese couture. This is suitable to be use at the beach environment, as the audience can feel cool inside the building even in summer time; on the other hand, the use of natural material also refers to the famous environment of Tai Mei Tuk.

Front View

In order to provide the audiences a comfortable view of the beach and ocean, both traditional Japanese windows and glass are used across the building, which these double layers can be open depending of the customer’s needs. All the rooms had contain large windows, which the smell of the sea and fresh air can be pass into the interior space.

Back View

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The final outcome had been designed base on the use of natural elements and Ukiyoe patterns, which keeps all four of the walls to have a connection by following the same style. Each side of the wall had represented different visual section, which are well known in the tradition of Japanese Art.

Main Entrance

I believe that the landscape design is another success to show the connection from the building to its nature environment. Inside the types of plants, the use of bamboo had shown a direct parallel to the un equal bamboo layers which covers the windows on the second floor. This stops the visual building to look like a dominance to the site.

Also, the use of mirror glass can both protect the victors privacy inside the hotel, and also reflect the view of the environment over the building, which shows another connection to the location.

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To create reflected patterns over the mirror surfaces, I had cut brown transparent features into another set of patterns, which looks similar to the branches of the bonsai. This will make the mirror surfaces to look different by the change of direction, while the amount of sun light can also changes how it views like.

On the other hand, the way how this separates the parts of the mirror, had refer back to the patterns on traditional paper doors.

On the two sides of the hotel, the features of cloud and mountain had been applied from the inspiration of Ukiyo-e, but simplified into more pixelated designs, this become more suitable to the general form of the building.

On the side of the second floor, the use of dark color glass had been inserted between the layers of wood, which the customers can see the view from the inside, while the others wouldn’t be able to see them from the outside. This increase the privacy of the hotel.

Side Views of the Minshuku

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Side View

CAD drawings created base on the cloud patterns

Primary Image (Ukiyo-e)

These are the idea process of creating the exterior features base on the patterns in Ukiyo-e Paintings.

I had simplified the details into layers of pixelated patterns, then overlapped them just like how the tradition paint are applied over and over the surface. This had successfully created a 3D roof design for the Minshuku building. Of course, there are a certain amount of gaps which are located across the roof, in order to pass day light into the second floor of the building, and also allow rain water to pass from the top back to the land.

Birdseye View

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Except from the use of cloud patterns, I had also use the 3D printing techniques to draw out the famous Ukiyo-e sea wave – The Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura. This transparent 3D drawing had allow me to apply interesting glass decoration to the back of the hotel building, which the audiences can easily view the beautiful Japanese Garden at the back. At night, it will also be possible to have LED light effects that adds shades of colors across the surface – this can be use in the situations of party and festivals.

Primary Image (Ukiyo-e)

Throughout the process of thinking and creating designs for the Minshuku, located at Tai Mei Tuk, I had improved techniques and through in different ways. Firstly, I had developed the skills of researching related information of the aim and theme, which allows me to create specific ideas that are suitable for solving the design problem. And by having these amount of research, I can easily refer and develop my ideas base on a similar direction, without getting out of track. I think that the research had really build up my knowledge about the Japanese culture, which increased my interest through the design process, this engage me to explore more range of traditional features, and combined it with the modern building ideas.

While experimenting on different materials and forms, I think that the most interesting part is when I explore on the chocolate forms. This is due to how its organic forms contains a completely different density and tone compare to the use of card and paper. As it contains a brown colour scheme, it also make me to start imagine how the use of natural wood could be combined over the surface of the Minshuku building design, which refers to the aim of combining the building to the environment. Also, the use of fragmental patterns over some of the models, had lead to the Ukiyo-e patterns inside my final outcome, which I believe had successfully shown the development from simple to detail.

In the process of developing the range of models with the Japanese culture, I had try to apply features such as paper doors, wooden patterns and other natural features. This had affect the visual colours of the exterior designs, which makes me to think further about if the outcome should follow the traditional or model design direction. Although this had been quite a difficult decision, but I had finally decide to use a traditional structure (following the separation of the bento box), and a Japanese model exterior design. I believe that as a combined between the two extreme styles, I had create a successful idea that contains all the details which I want from my experiments and development. No matter by the aim of applying nature features across the design, or including Japanese Ukiyo-e around the walls and glass, these all work together for the functions of the Minshuku.

Overall, my favorited part of the final outcome is the Ukiyo-e cloud roof top, which I believe is really interesting no matter which direction I look at it from. This is the most represented part inside the building, and I believe that it can strongly be remember by the victors and customers of the hotel. I also believe that the use of blue and brown had contain a large connection to the beach and sea environment, at Tai Mei Tuk, which they can successfully merge together when looking at them from a birds eye view.

There for in conclusion, I believe that I had developed a range of new 3D skills through model making, while my ideas of designing had also been improved when having a clear aim and direction. If I have a chance to recreate the final outcome by using the similar ideas, I might apply a further use of organic forms across the area of the Minshuku building, which will lead the design to a more model style, compare to the form of traditional Japanese buildings.