IDEAS FOR GOODKyoto is one of the leading tourist destinations in Japan, well-known for its old shrines, temples, Japanese gardens, and ancient neighborhoods. However, the city’s charm does not end there. Its wide variety of accommodation is also something to look forward to. Tourists can choose from staying at a guesthouse, a traditional Japanese inn to a luxurious hotel.
BnA Alter Museum joins the plethora of accommodation, a new concept hotel scheduled to open in April 2019. With branches in Tokyo and Kyoto, the hotel designs its hotel rooms with art. They are managed by BnA Corporation and a real estate developer, Columbia Works Corporation.
Columbia Works aims to develop a human-centric community. In fact, their motto is to establish a cycle of imagination and experience, serving as a global platform for individuals to excel in.
What to expect from the museum hotel
BnA Alter Museum promotes the concept of a museum hotel. It will offer 31 rooms, each designed as a piece of art created by one of 15 passionate artists. These artists include Daito Manabe from Rhizomatiks and Art Director Akiyoshi Mishima.
The hotel will also contain facilities such as a gallery space that runs vertically 30 meters high, a museum shop, bar and lounge. The assortment of facilities creates a new type of hotel that also functions as an art space.
BnA Alter Museum will provide a blend of bed, food and art experience. Just like your conventional art museum, guests will not only be able to appreciate paintings and sculptures, but also to receive inspiration from them.
“Instead of an art museum that ensures peace and quiet, BnA Alter Museum is one that favors the echoes of laughter. Instead of an art museum where art pieces are appreciated from afar, BnA Alter Museum offers the experience of ‘staying in an art piece’. [And] instead of an art museum where artists are beyond reach, BnA Alter Museum encourages interaction between the artist and audience. The line between the artist and audience is blurred, creating a community where everyone and anyone is an expressionist.” (Images via official website)
The hotel’s public space serves as an avenue for artists to organize exhibitions and events. It allows for local and international artists to network with art enthusiasts. The exchanges between artists, travelers, and regional art enthusiasts is a new attraction towards the arts. A portion of the profits goes to the artists.
Creating an inclusive art community
Kyoto welcomes a brand new concept of hotel and art museum while honoring the city’s history and tradition. The refocus on arts can further the culture scene in Kyoto, especially in anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. So it looks like Kyoto is slowly transforming the community of art and breaking down the image of its exclusiveness.
This article was originally published on IDEAS FOR GOOD
Translated by Amanda Wee
