The Answers With... Tadao Ando

The curtains have lifted on Japan’s first W Hotel in Osaka – a beautiful hybrid of centuries-old Japanese tradition and playful, contemporary design, all of which was conceived by the world-acclaimed Japanese architect.

- Allisa Noraini

Osaka has reached a new pinnacle of chic with Japan’s first W hotel. And while barrier-breaking contemporary architects are a dime a dozen in the city, few to none bring to the table what Tadao Ando is able to – coming up with larger-than-life designs imbued with inimitable nuances of personality and style.

With W Osaka, Ando is doing just that. You won’t find the brand’s signature, soft neon glow on the exterior. Instead, the new 337-key hotel bears a minimalist, jet-black monolith facade, a nod to the prudishness of the Edo era.

Make no mistake though, W Osaka is still as fun, bright and lively as its counterparts. Take a step in and you’ll experience a different world altogether; one that’s filled with origami-inspired design motifs, vivid feature walls and Kawaii Kokeshi wooden dolls. Take, for instance, the arrival tunnel that leads guests to the lobby; it’s adorned with 3,000 laser-cut circles that draw design cues from cherry blossoms and origami. Integrated lightings allow the feature tunnel to change its colour, depending on the season and time of the day. For sure, Ando is also sending a hidden message: never to judge a book by its cover.

What do you hope guests would be able to experience at W Osaka?