Soki Atami is a hot spring luxury hotel located in Atami, a coastal resort town in Shizuoka, which is known as one of the oldest hot spring retreats in Japan. This project aims to revise the traditional Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) experience to be more suitable for modern lifestyles. Moreover, it aims to rediscover the region's charm by creating connections between guests and the locality's rich nature, culture, and people. In Japan, natural hot springs are thought to possess healing properties and offer health benefits. This concept, referred to as Toji, serves as the inspiration for Soki Atami. This project aims to design an innovative, all-encompassing healing experience by showcasing the local culture and history, as well as allowing guests to enjoy the healing effects of hot spring bathing and cuisine made from natural, locally-sourced ingredients. The name of the facility, "SOKI," is derived from the word for "plain vessel." The hotel serves as a vessel that enables guests to enjoy the local specialties and natural environment of the region by presenting them in their natural state. In addition to the reception space, guest rooms, and restaurant wings, the property boasts a central garden featuring citrus trees and local flora. All the guest rooms include individual hot spring baths, but guests can also enjoy shared facilities such as the Public Onsen and the Tea Salon & Bar overlooking Atami Bay located on the top floor. The reception, the guest rooms, public onsen, and Tea Salon and Bar were designed by TONERICO:INC. Rather than pursuing flashy novelty, the project aims to foster the image of subdued sophistication by emphasizing contrast in the design. In order to replicate a comfortable and tranquil environment, contrasting elements of light, texture, height, pigment, and perspective are employed throughout the design. In this way, Soki creates a little escape from the ordinary for the guest without the loud and flashy interpretation of luxury embraced by many modern properties. The design is rooted in the idea of adding something means subtracting another in turn, ultimately fostering a pleasant atmosphere with a sense of "good tension." The simple composition of the guest rooms offers a peaceful contrast that does not overwhelm, featuring materials such as earthen mortar and white wood in the front room, the skeleton ceiling in the corridor, wooden vertical lattices, and Japanese paper and artwork in the margins of spaces, intentionally left bare. The design aims to evoke the illusion of wideness of space that is characteristic of Japanese architecture. The low line of sight created from a seated position is something Japanese people are mindful of throughout the space. The designers want overseas travelers to naturally experience an illusionary sense of space that is unique to Japanese spaces. This is referred to as the "realm of consciousness," where one perceives their surroundings differently through the strategic arrangement of partitions, materials, and lighting. The interior of the dining room was designed by age co.,ltd. The 4.5m high ceiling featuring an iconic furnace in the center gives the appearance of wooden architecture, making the restaurant unique and unforgettable. A large ventilation hood of black steel composition suspended in the center becomes the focal point of the space. The furnace below also serves as a design highlight. Natural materials such as locally sourced wood, Japanese plastering, and traditional Washi paper dyed with natural pigments are featured throughout the interior finishes. The restaurant's rear wall makes use of black stucco, gold brass, and blue-green silk paper, whose color resembles the reflection of moonlight on the ocean. Guests can experience authentic Japanese barbeque-style food and converse with the chef while enjoying the view of hot charcoal over an open fireplace. The hotel focuses on collaboration with local industries in space creation and service design. Logs and stones used in Soki are locally sourced and handcrafted by local craftsmen. Much of the materials used in building are sourced from the region, and guests can experience the region's local specialties by enjoying seasonal delicacies sourced from local fishers, farmers, and other producers. Many of the herbs harvested in the garden are also used in the Public Onsen, a Dining Room, and Tea Salon & Bar. By doing so, SOKI ATAMI aims to foster and maintain a strong connection with the local community.