Skyscraper hotel Fairmont Tokyo "blurs boundaries between inside and out"

Australian interiors firm BAR Studio has combined lush landscaped terraces and locally sourced materials in Tokyo's Fairmont hotel to forge a connection to its waterfront location.

Fairmont Tokyo occupies the upper eight floors of the 43-storey Blue Front Shibaura South tower by Japanese firm Maki and Associates, offering views across Tokyo Bay on one side and Tokyo Tower on the other.

Garden terrace of Tokyo skyscraper hotel — Fairmont Tokyo's lobby (top image) opens onto a landscaped terrace (above)

BAR Studio's design for its public spaces and 217 guest rooms was influenced by this unique location, combining sleek, urban materials with planting and hand-crafted details that bring in elements of nature despite the lofty skyscraper setting.

"We sought to create a link between Tokyo's contrasts of traditional and contemporary, the calm of the bay and the city's energy, and modern culture and the intrinsic connection with nature that has a long heritage in Japan," BAR Studio design director Lucas Chirnside told Dezeen.

Lobby of Fairmont Tokyo hotel by BAR Studio — Rippled glass bricks echo the vistas of Tokyo Bay

"Our design language throughout focuses on encapsulating an essence of place, honouring traditional Japanese craft techniques and materialities in our design decisions, and subtly referencing traditional spatial concepts," he added.

Guests are welcomed via Fairmont Tokyo's lobby on the 35th floor, which provides expansive views of the bay through its double-height windows and opens onto a terrace garden.

Gilded wall panels in Fairmont Tokyo hotel by BAR Studio — Gilded wall panels reference the Japanese mending craft of kintsugi

Materials featured in the lobby reference the presence of light and water that defines Shibaura. A custom glass panel behind the reception desk produces glimmering reflections, while the desk's base incorporates translucent glass bricks.

"Our design aims to blur the boundaries between inside and out," Chirnside said.

"We were inspired by the idea of the 'engawa' in Japanese architecture, which is a connecting space between indoors and out, fostering interaction with nature and the environment."

Bedroom in Tokyo skyscraper hotel — Fairmont Tokyo has 217 guest rooms

The guest rooms, which occupy floors 36 to 42, are designed to create a sense of serenity and feature a minimalist palette including natural Japanese ash wood, white quartzite stone and brass.

Muted colours foreground details, including joinery, textiles and art, that reinterpret Japanese craft techniques like kintsugi – the art of repairing pottery with precious metal powder.

The rooms are decorated with textured wall coverings informed by traditional weaving techniques and custom carpets with linear patterns based on Zen gardens.

The building's highest floor is home to a trio of hospitality spaces offering views over the city and Tokyo Tower – standing bar Yoi-to-Yoi, listening bar Off the Record and restaurant Driftwood, serving Japanese adaptations of Western cuisine.

These are arranged around a central cocktail bar crowned with a custom-designed, rippled glass chandelier.

Bedroom of Fairmont Tokyo hotel by BAR Studio — The bedrooms feature nods to traditional Japanese weaving and Zen gardens

BAR Studio's lighting scheme was designed to complement Fairmont Tokyo's indoor-outdoor theme and can be adapted to suit the shifting ambience of the public zones throughout the day and night.

"At night, the atmosphere is intimate and engaging," Chirnside said.

"When designing these spaces, we drew on our love of Tokyo's unique nightlife and dining culture, which showcases a passion for refined ingredients and a deep understanding of the value of personal connections."

Bar spaces of Tokyo skyscraper hotel — The building's top floor houses several bars and a restaurant

Also located on the top floor is a wedding chapel with wooden floors and a restrained palette based on the concept of a finely crafted Japanese timber pavilion.

A large skylight creates a focal point for the space, which also includes garden terraces on either side and a cloud-like suspended sculpture by Japanese artist Ishin Tanaka above the altar.

Bar of Fairmont Tokyo hotel by BAR Studio — BAR Studio designed a custom chandelier for the central bar

For Fairmont Tokyo's other public spaces, BAR Studio curated contemporary artworks that emphasise the connection to the natural environment and local culture, including botanical paper installations by Wanda Barcelona.

The 35th floor terrace features a sculpture by Vidé Création that takes inspiration from the link between the earth and sky, while Berlin-based artist Tomislav Topić's suspended installation in the lobby lounge references Japanese washi paper.

Wedding chapel of Fairmont Tokyo hotel by BAR Studio — The hotel also has its own wedding chapel on the top floor

The project is the latest addition to BAR Studio's portfolio of hospitality projects, which the firm oversees from its offices in Melbourne and Madrid.

Among them is the Capella hotel in Sydney's heritage-listed Department of Education building.

The photography is by Peter Bennetts.

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