Jean Nouvel’s Stone and Glass Retreat in japan
NOT A HOTEL announces its latest iteration for the Japanese island of Yakushima, this time with architecture by Jean Nouvel. The lush, rain-soaked location for this upcoming boutique hotel is a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its ancient cedar forests and shifting coastal weather. Commissioned by the hospitality brand NOT A HOTEL, the project will hide within a landscape defined by moss-covered rocks and misty green canopies.
Jean Nouvel’s design draws directly from the island’s topography, embedding the building within the natural contours of the terrain. Walls of locally-sourced stone and broad panes of glass form a low, grounded structure that can be gradually discovered as the forest unfolds. Thus, the architecture reflects the island’s elements, welcoming the rain and shadow as a part of its atmosphere.
images © NOT A HOTEL, Ateliers Jean Nouvel
not a hotel lands on yakushima island
Ateliers Jean Nouvel approaches the design of NOT A HOTEL YAKUSHIMA as a celebration of absence. ‘The most sophisticated things belong to nature — its landscapes, its paths, its reliefs, the views that will be revealed; everything else is absence,’ the architect explains, describing his approach. His words emphasize the project’s restraint. The built space becomes a quiet frame for Yakushima’s scenery, rather than an object within it.
Inside the hotel, spaces open broadly onto the forest and sea, creating an atmosphere that is at once contemplative and immediate. Subtle transitions between indoor and outdoor areas invite guests to move freely with the rhythms of weather and daylight. The stone surfaces collect rainwater and reflect shifting skies, while glass expanses channel sounds of wind and water.
the retreat stands on the lush UNESCO World Heritage island of Yakushima
a continuation of the island cliffs
‘At its base lies the stone — a permanent presence, shaped by time, rain, and wind, carrying the patina of years,’ Jean Nouvel adds, describing the influence of Yakushima’s landscape on his design for NOT A HOTEL. Rocks and stone blocks are arranged as if they have always been part of the island, their textures blending with the surrounding forest floor and nearby cliffside. This tactile connection to the site lends a design that values permanence and encourages quiet observation among the trees.
The interplay of light and shadow reinforces the sense of continuity with the landscape. Openings frame views of the sea and distant peaks, while the interiors are softened by the shifting glow of Yakushima’s ever-changing weather. The design team seeks to inspire a slow engagement with the environment and highlights the delicate balance between built form and otherwise untouched landscape.
stone and glass walls follow the natural contours of the terrain
As part of NOT A HOTEL’s larger group of retreats across Japan, the project is a flexible model of ownership and hospitality. Members can purchase a residence and share it as a hotel stay when unoccupied, with the brand managing maintenance and operations. Sales for NOT A HOTEL YAKUSHIMA are set to begin in summer 2026.
stone surfaces and glass expanses capture shifting light and sound
Nouvel describes nature as the most sophisticated presence
project info:
name: NOT A HOTEL YAKUSHIMA
architect: Ateliers Jean Nouvel | @ateliersjeannouvel
location: Yakushima, Japan
client: NOT A HOTEL | @notahotel_official
visualizations: courtesy NOT A HOTEL, Ateliers Jean Nouvel
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