With a series of bland 1970s high-rise buildings as its backdrop, the new addition to the Shiroiya Hotel in Maebashi, Japan could easily have been unremarkable, adding to the block’s overall “concrete jungle” vibe. But as soon as architect Sou Fujimoto became involved with the project, the word “boring” flew out the window. Well known for his unconventional approach to urban architecture, Fujimoto has breathed new life into the development with a faux tree-covered hillside topping the original hotel building.

The town, which once thrived in the silk industry, is currently in the midst of a revitalization, with Shiroiya Hotel in particular being seen as “a living room” for locals and travelers to relax, dine, and enjoy art. In recent decades, however, the hotel fell into decline and closed. Japanese business mogul Hitoshi Tanaka, CEO of eyewear company JINS, enlisted Fujimoto to make it the jewel of his hometown once again, overseeing a renovation that also includes guest rooms designed by an international team of creatives including Michele de Lucchi, Jasper Morrison, and Leandro Erlich.
In an interview with Designboom, Fujimoto explained that he didn’t feel particularly inspired when he saw the existing building, and that the four-story hotel made of reinforced concrete “wouldn’t be a very special place” if the team just completed an interior renovation. Naturally, they had to take it further than that....