A Gentle Connection Between "Hare"(the extraordinary)  and "Ke"(the ordinary)​

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The OMO series is an urban hotel brand by a well-known Japanese hotel group, Hoshino Resorts, categorized by numbers (1, 3, 5, and 7) based on the facility contents. The “OMO7 Kochi” is a renovation project of the 25-year-old hotel. Under the brand concept of "an exciting downtown hotel" we aimed to transform the space into a place where guests can experience the local culture, climate, and charm of the people, to become a hotel that showcases the very essence of Kochi. To express the OMO brand’s concept of "an exciting downtown hotel," we transformed the first-floor entrance lobby, which previously separated from the second floor, by connecting it to the upper levels through a large staircase that also serves as seating. This addition allows the space to function as a stage, reflecting the brand’s distinctive characteristics and the uniqueness of OMO7 Kochi. After dinner, this stage hosts nightly Yosakoi performances, a traditional dance originating in Kochi, 365 days a year. It becomes a symbolic place for the hotel’s overall concept, “Gaku-en” (joyful banquet), representing the hospitality culture of Kochi known as “Okyaku”(gathering). Furthermore, the walls are alternately covered with plain and vermillion-dyed hinoki cypress wood, and the columns wrapped with rough rope dyed in six colors, expressing the tropical sprit of Kochi, continue all the way to the dining area on the second floor, injecting the space with energy. While the public spaces, where guests can experience the vibrancy and character of Kochi, represent “Hare” (the extraordinary), the private guestrooms embody “Ke” (the ordinary). Yet, by incorporating lingering elements of “Hare” in the guestrooms, the overall story flows gently, providing a unique and enjoyable experience that only this hotel can offer.