Wedding Chapel in Kei no Umi
Back to Projects list- Location
- Awaji, Japan
- Year
- 2014
The site is Awaji Island Sunset View Hotel "Kehi no Umi", about 2 hours drive from Osaka. The initial request from the owner was to design the interior of the hotel.
However, when we actually checked the interior on site, the condition of the interior was not so bad, and we thought that what this place really needed was a measure to create new value to attract more people to visit.
So we turned our attention to the large garden on the property and the picturesque swimming pool. The location overlooking the ocean reminded us of an Okinawan resort wedding. We immediately worked with a wedding producer to propose a wedding venue.
The concept was a party wedding using a large, open garden and restaurant.
The proposal was simple: build a new chapel on the premises without adding anything more than what was already there.
Since the surrounding area had only white chapels, the interior and exterior were finished in wood, and local Awaji tiles were used for the flooring. The simple form of the chapel expressed a warm, "idyllic" atmosphere, and we aimed to create a private wedding venue for only those who knew each other well. The location with a view of the ocean and the bride's walk would also provide a wonderful picture to be captured in photographs.
As these concepts took shape, Kehi no Umi became the location for more than 50 weddings a year. In addition, many people use the outdoor terrace and indoor restaurant for after-parties after their weddings and use the hotel directly afterwards, resulting in an increase in the overall occupancy rate of the facility.
Although the original request was for the hotel interior design, we were involved in this project from the planning stage in order to create new value in a new way.