Project name: Ikiru Hotel
Architect / Interior design: IDEOLOGIST
Visualization: Sophie Stepanova
Year: 2024
Project description from design firms IDEOLOGIST
Ikiru Hotel: A Harmonious Renovation and Branding Project Co-created with Nature
IDEOLOGIST has spearheaded the renovation and rebranding of Ikiru Hotel, a project deeply inspired by Japanese artistic traditions, where human intervention delicately frames natural life, complementing rather than overpowering it.
Background
The owner of a hotel located on the scenic Black Sea coast approached IDEOLOGIST to lead the transformation of a late-Soviet era resort building and design the interiors for its 30 guest rooms. Central to the project was the owner’s vision of developing a future aikido training camp next to the main structure, creating a cohesive architectural and stylistic environment.
Concept
The hotel’s setting — a landscape defined by the sea, cliffs, forest, and river — inherently provides a powerful and self-sustaining environment. The surrounding nature offers a remarkable backdrop, and the architecture was designed with the goal of blending seamlessly into it.
The Japanese aesthetic tradition is rooted in a principle of non-disruption of natural objects. This approach could be called “non-creative” in the sense that creating something new is not an act of imposing, but rather a process of revealing what is already inherent in nature. In this way of thinking, nature is already perfect, and human efforts should only serve to highlight and illuminate its beauty.
According to this philosophy, we designed the hotel’s architecture and interiors to serve as a form of “framing” for the surrounding environment. The building acts as a subtle guide, focusing attention on the natural landscape rather than competing with it.
The hotel’s name, Ikiru, resonates with the Japanese concept of life itself, meaning to “live” or “be alive.” To the Japanese, stones, trees, mountains, water, and all surrounding elements breathe life. This understanding of life’s interconnectedness echoes the philosophy of aikido, which teaches unity of body and spirit, as well as harmony between people, oneself, and the environment.
Architecture
The design of Ikiru Hotel draws inspiration from the restrained patterns of traditional men’s kimono fabric. This vision is realized through clear, minimalist lines and an economy of elements, emphasizing the relationship between the building and its surroundings. The architecture prioritizes the essential — directing focus towards the natural beauty that envelops the site.
A key design feature is the use of rectangular bands that seem to float around the building’s main volume, reminiscent of fabric draped over a kimono. These bands encircle the building on each level, projecting beyond its windows and balconies, thereby breaking the conventional facade composition and creating intricate plays of light and shadow.
This strategy lends a sense of dynamic fluidity to the building’s facade while simultaneously increasing guest privacy. The projecting elements form a kind of “frame” for guests to view the landscape through, enhancing their connection to nature while shielding them from outside scrutiny. This element is both aesthetic and functional — not only does it guide the viewer’s gaze, but it also ensures an intimate connection between guest and environment.
The building’s roof is designed with cascading, wave-like slopes, mirroring the terrain and invoking traditional Japanese temple architecture, grounding the project in its cultural roots.
Interior Design
The interior design of Ikiru Hotel is driven by a focus on harmony and tranquility, principles central to both aikido philosophy and traditional Japanese aesthetics where space and detail are of utmost importance.
A distinctive feature of the interiors is the arrangement of furniture: all beds are aligned to face the windows. The ever-changing sea, forest, and mountains become integral elements of each guest’s stay. This intentional design choice creates a direct link between guests and their natural surroundings, ensuring that the view becomes part of their everyday experience.
The furniture is consciously low and wide, reflecting the style of Japanese living rooms where sitting on the floor is common. For the comfort of European guests, however, standard seating heights were maintained, subtly blending cultural authenticity with modern sensibilities. This juxtaposition creates an optical effect where the furniture feels integrated into the space without dominating it, enhancing a calming, conflict-free environment.
Another key element is the use of raised platforms, which help define different zones within the rooms while adding depth. Much like in traditional Japanese homes, where levels in the space convey significance, these podiums symbolize a journey inward. Upon entering the room, guests are invited to remove their shoes in the lower zone, marking a shift from the hectic outside world to a serene, contemplative space intended for reflection and rejuvenation. This small yet symbolic gesture offers a psychological transition, reinforcing the sense of entering a place designed for peace and restoration.
Lighting and Materials
Lighting plays a crucial role in the overall ambiance of Ikiru Hotel. A soft, unobtrusive lighting scheme with carefully thought-out contrasts was implemented to evoke a sense of calm and comfort. Guided by minimalist principles, the lighting enhances focal points without overpowering the natural elements that remain at the heart of the experience.
The choice of materials is equally important in creating a connection with nature. Finishes are tactile, natural, and understated: light-hued plaster, warm maple wood, and traditional Japanese washi paper contribute to a sensory experience that invites touch and observation. Flooring is predominantly finished with parquet, but in certain areas, tatami mats have been introduced — another nod to Japanese design traditions. The tatami also serve as multi-functional zones, where minimalistic, low-profile furniture allows guests to rest comfortably on the floor, offering a glimpse into authentic Japanese living — though adapted for modern European comfort.
Room Types and Design Philosophy
Ikiru Hotel offers seven different room configurations, each varying in size and layout but all adhering to the overarching concept of tranquility, interaction with nature, and unity of design. These rooms cater to diverse needs, from compact spaces for two, designed in the spirit of efficient Tokyo hotels, to expansive luxury suites with separate bedrooms and dedicated tea zones.
One of the design cornerstones in several rooms is the use of kumiko sliding partitions, which allow guests to tailor the space to their preferences. This modularity ensures flexibility, enabling rooms to be either split into different zones — such as the separation of sleeping and living areas — or opened up for a more connected experience. This adaptability reflects Japan’s longstanding tradition of transforming a single space into multiple environments for different uses throughout the day.
Even in the smallest rooms, some as compact as 15 square meters, the central philosophy remains focused on maximizing interaction with the panoramic views. The minimalist design, along with clever furniture placement, generates a surprising sense of spaciousness and intimacy, without any unnecessary clutter.
Unlike many resorts where the goal is simply to provide comfort or opulence, Ikiru subtly invites each guest into a dialogue with nature. The architecture doesn’t seek to impose itself on the landscape but rather to act as a complement to it, ensuring that the natural world remains the true focus.
Just as aikido teaches mindfulness in motion, Ikiru Hotel encourages mindfulness in stillness — an invitation to live intentionally, to find beauty not just in grand gestures but in the subtle interactions between human design and the eternal rhythms of nature.
