NOT A HOTEL DESIGN COMPETITION 2026 - Overview

Application period: September 22, 2025 - January 11, 2026 Target competitors: Architects and creators under 40 (as of April 1, 2025) The project: Designs for NOT A HOTEL, a hotel to be built and sold on Yakushima Island Affiliation: Individuals, corporations, or groups are welcome to apply (if applying as a group, all members must be under 40 years old). Selection process: Two-stage process (First stage: document review, Second stage: public judging session) Prize money: Grand Prize: ¥10 million (plus design fee) / Excellence Award (4 works): ¥500,000 / Honorable Mention (5 works): ¥150,000 Judges (titles omitted): Bjarke Ingels (Founder & Creative Director of BIG), Sou Fujimoto (Representative Director of Sou Fujimoto Architectural Design Office), Masamichi Katayama (CEO of Wonderwall), Shinji Hamauzu (Co-CEO/Chief Visionary of NOT A HOTEL) Total number of applicants: 2,128 teams, 4,250 individuals (participating from 112 countries and regions) Number of submitted works: 1058 Student Award Eligibility: Students under 25 years old (as of April 1, 2025) Judging method: Document review only (winning works will be presented at a public judging session) Prize money: ¥1 million

The four judges heading to the venue

The opening ceremony kicked off with a video message from Mohamed Hassan Elgendy, the winner of the top prize last year, who offered words of encouragement to the finalists awaiting the judging.

Finalists preparing for their presentations

Public Review Meeting Time Schedule

11:30 Opening Ceremony 11:45 Presentations (Each team had 5 minutes for their presentation, followed by 10 minutes for Q&A.) 15:45 Public Discussion with Judges 16:55 Results Announcement 17:20 Closing Ceremony

Ten finalists competed through 15-minute sessions

Each of the 10 finalist teams presented their ideas in a five minute presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A session. The limited time made the presentations quite dense and lively.

Entry No. 2204 "Echo of the Mountain" (Excellence Award) Zhen Tong, Haochen Yu, Sherry Wen, and Xiaoji Zhou (USA)

"Echo of the Mountain" is inspired by the silhouettes of the rugged mountains of Yakushima. Shinji Hamauzu, who nominated the work for the Excellence Award, praised it: "The design shows a thorough understanding of Yakushima's nature and surrounding environment, and the angle of the roof and other details have been carefully considered.” The roof, with its square-shaped materials rotated 45 degrees relative to the ground and curved outwards, allows rainwater to flow down through grooves, enveloping the building in a "curtain of water." Furthermore, the multiple separate sections of the roof, along with the natural light and wind that enter through the gaps, function as a device that amplifies the experience of the external environment even while inside the building.

Shinji Hamazu (Not a Hotel Co-CEO/Chief Visionary) served as one of the judges

Entry No. 0349 "Sound of Rain" (Grand Prize) Steven Chu (Australia)

"Sound of Rain," which was selected as the grand prize winner, uses a large circular roof to protect from the rain, while transparent material is used above the living room to allow the viewer to experience the dripping rain and the changing ripples on the water.

The location for this design competition was Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Approximately 20% of the island's area is registered as a World Heritage Site, and the contrast between the lush primeval forest and the beautiful sea creates a unique landscape. With an annual rainfall exceeding 8,000 mm (five times the average annual rainfall in Japan), many proposals made use of these unique weather conditions and natural environment. Near the site of the competition will be NOT A HOTEL YAKUSHIMA, by Ateliers Jean Nouvel.

Entry No. 1891 "Primitive Retreat" (Excellence Award) Youseok Cho, Oliver Chiu, Hanchan Ryu (South Korea)

"Primitive Retreat" is an architectural design that combines a sense of security and comfort with a connection to the outside world. The structure, inspired by the image of a "cave," is open and simple—a composition that borrows the magnificent natural scenery of Yakushima. “”The ground space is protected from the rain and nature. At the same time, this is a place where you can be yourself regardless of the seasons and weather. For now, the façade’s a bit too strong, but after 20-30 years, it will be covered by greenery, melting into the nature and still keeping that kind of the beauty and pureness, like the inside of a cave.”" Fujimoto said, giving it high praise.

One of the judges was Sou Fujimoto (President and CEO of Sou Fujimoto Architects & Associates)

Entry No. 0698 "A CRAFTED SHELTER" (Honorable Mention) Daniel Villanueva, Sergio Colchado, Karina Ortega, and Sergio Coxca (Mexico)

"A CRAFTED SHELTER" incorporates the surrounding natural environment while also focusing on the culture and craftsmanship of Yakushima. A tower is placed in the center, and the plan is to have a large wooden roof and interior space spread out from it. Stone is used extensively in the lower levels of the building to give the impression that it is rising from the Yakushima earth, while the upper levels are composed of a wooden frame structure and skylights, giving a sense of openness to the forest and the sky.

Entry No. 1022 "Between Forests" (Excellence Award) Yunji Chung (South Korea)

"Between Forests" is striking for its organically unfolding floor plan that follows the undulations of the site, the massive rocks, and the trees. While the roofs create continuity between each room, the inclusion of semi-outdoor corridors and terraces where rain falls creates a connection between the interior and exterior, offering a stay experience that blends seamlessly with the nature of Yakushima. "Your project has a thoughtful and simple elegance that makes it feel like a casual stroll down the mountain, where each activity of living and bathing and sleeping has found its natural resting site. And everything is tied together in the most simple way that creates this elegant sculpture that even though it is expressive and sculptural, has this kind of natural effortlessness that I find very endearing and therefore also makes it feel very gentle on the site," Bjarke said.

Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director of BIG, served as a judge

In response to the finalists' proposals, Bjarke Ingels said, “Architecture is the art and science of creating the framework for the life that we want to live. And you could say that the house—the single family home—is the smallest molecule of architecture. It represents a little block of architecture, a canvas upon which you can create a strong statement about how you think our lives could be or how they should be. So, in that sense, even though it is a boutique little home, it is somehow a small investment that has a great potential for important statements about architecture to be made.”

Entry No. 2032 "THE DRAGON'S BREEZE" (Honorable Mention) Kemal Bal, Erol Kalmaz, Nil Bicak, and Busra Yavuz (Türkiye)

"THE DRAGON'S BREEZE" is a project inspired by the mountains and forests of Yakushima Island, and the way they connect to the sea, with the flow of the sequence likened to a "dragon." Each resident is located in a branching area that extends in multiple directions from the central axis, offering a different view and experience.

Entry No.0396 Deep Transparency (Excellence Prize) Georgina Baronian and Sam Clovis (USA)

"Deep Transparency" seeks to create architecture that blends seamlessly into the environment, minimizing its impact on the surrounding natural surroundings. Focusing on elements such as water, air, and light, it expresses the depth of transparency created by their interaction within the space. Furthermore, it attempts to create a new ecosystem by incorporating natural cycles such as water and wind as part of the architecture."It's a very poetic space that was born from a deep exploration of the relationship between nature, people, and design. Even if it doesn't happen this time, I would like to experience it in person someday," said Katayama, and it was selected for the Excellence Award.

Masamichi Katayama (CEO of Wonderwall) served as a judge

Entry No.2317 "Aida" (Honorable Mention) Airat Zaidullin and Dina Kiyamova (Russia)

"Aida" is based on the concept of "space" or "interval" found in architecture, people, and nature. The building is positioned to take advantage of the large rocks and undulations of the land on the site, proposing a space where you can experience the gaps that arise from this. Light streaming in through the slits in the roof and the intricately interwoven glass openings create a sense of continuity between the interior and exterior, resulting in a rich spatial experience.

Entry No.0959 "Life could be just" (HONORABLE MENTION) Rui Taveira, José Taveira, Sofia Oliveira

"Life could be just" re-examines each element that makes up the architecture and Yakushima Island, and reconstructs them like art. The façade has a large tiled roof that contrasts with a sense of weightiness and lightness, a rooftop that collects rainwater and becomes a water basin, and light and wind pass through the gaps between them. It is a proposal that allows for a cumulative spatial experience that can only be felt in this place.

Entry No.0645 "Living Stones" (HONORABLE MENTION) San Yoon and Thakan Navapakpilai (USA)

"Living Stones" takes advantage of the sloping terrain, with its undulating volumes winding through the trees. Inspired by the granite found in the pristine landscape of Yakushima Island, the building's interior and exterior finishes evoke the texture of stone. The design encourages visitors to encounter diverse natural landscapes and scenery as they step inside and move further into the house.

The presentation and awards ceremony included Manuel Woelfl and others who received the first-ever "Student Award"

In the middle of the finalists' presentations, we held the presentation and awards ceremony for the student award winners: a team of Italians led by Manuel Woelfl. The newly-established "Student Award (U-25)" was an attempt to encourage the free-thinking proposals of promising students. The winning entry "IN-BETWEEN" is an attractive space that incorporates the nature of Yakushima and pays deep attention to the interior design details. The judges said that the work was on par with the finalists, and expressed their expectations for the students' further growth and future success.

Entry No.1358 "IN-BETWEEN" (STUDENT PRIZE) Manuel Woelfl, Mariachiara Bolis, Martina Maria Martin, Benedetta Pellegrini, Camilla Truffelli, Matilde Silva, Erseda Skenderaj (Italy)

"IN-BETWEEN," which won the Student Award, proposes a space that allows visitors to feel closer to the natural elements of Yakushima: its mountains, forests, sea, and rain. The design focused on creating an experience unique to the place, with rooms that extend outwards towards different landscapes and a roof shape that collects rainwater in the center of the building to create a waterfall-like landscape. The project was praised for its meticulous planning of functionality as both a living space and accommodation.

A public discussion delving into the finalists' thinking

Following the presentations, the judges ran a public discussion session. Each judge selected two works that caught their attention and asked the finalists in-depth questions to help them in selecting the best work.

A few topics came up frequently in the discussion: "the feasibility of the architecture" and "the non-negotiable elements to the design.” For example, in "Sound of Rain," there was a discussion around the plan to install a large skylight in the living room to allow people to experience rainwater. The judges asked repeated questions about whether the materials, size, and architectural structure could really be realized as planned. Also, regarding "Living Stones," which emphasizes sequence, there were sharp criticisms about whether the experience presented by the architect would truly be appealing to the people who would be spending time there.

On the other hand, for "Deep Transparency" and "Life Could Be Just," which drew inspiration from the works and poems of artists, judges asked to hear the architects' intentions behind them.

Regarding feasibility, which was one of the topics of discussion, Hamauzu said, "Of course, cost is an undeniable factor when it comes to actually building something. However, that's not the main factor in this competition. The most important thing is whether there are people who want to own this building," expressing his thoughts on NOT A HOTEL's goal of creating architecture that tells a unique story.

"The architecture for NOT A HOTEL needs to be something that is in harmony with nature and people's lives, while at the same time drawing out the potential of the place. Because all the proposals are wonderful, we want to choose one that takes into account the land of Yakushima and the environment of the site more deeply," said Fujimoto. Katayama said, "From the perspective of an interior designer, I want to carefully assess the feasibility of everyone's ideas and select a space that will provide a special experience for guests." The competition then proceeded with detailed questioning and verification, which is characteristic of a competition where proposals can be turned into reality.

"Sound of Rain," a proposal that elevates the nature experience of Yakushima, was selected as the grand prize winner

After a heated discussion and careful consideration by the judges, the grand prize was awarded to Steven Chu for his work "Sound of Rain." The judges praised his clear and bold proposal, which focused on the rain of Yakushima and transformed it into a unique experience that can only be had there.

The centerpiece of “Sound of Rain” is the living room with its transparent ceiling. As the title of the work suggests, it creates a unique spatial experience where you can watch the rain above. In addition, the bedrooms, bathrooms, and other rooms are arranged radially from the circular living room. In each room, you can feel a connection to the forests and sea of ​​Yakushima. The sight of rain dripping from the water basin on the roof will surely enhance the view to make it even more special.

Judges' positive comments on the Grand Prize winner (excerpts from comments made at the time of the results announcement)

Your proposal, in a very blatant way, creates ceremony out of this experience of inhabiting a rainy forest on a mountain. The kind of architecture of the watery roof, the pavilion-like temple-like experience of being underneath a body of water, the central space that brings the family together and this kind of openness towards the surroundings. It all creates a character and a personality that feels unique and native to this particular place and would be an amazing destination for the visitors of NOT A HOTEL. —Bjarke Ingels From among many wonderful entries, we selected this one by carefully considering its uniqueness and individuality. The architecture, which allows guests to spend time beneath a water feature that might seem impossible at first glance, embodies the architectural vision and spatial experience that NOT A HOTEL aims for. How to realize this will be a test of the NOT A HOTEL team's skills. This Grand Prize winner truly embodies the value of this competition, which is dedicated to realizing the architects' visions. —Sou Fujimoto When I first saw the materials for each project, I actually had an intuition, “This is it!" But as much as I was drawn to it, I also wondered if it could be realized. Through the judging and discussions, various ideas were exchanged among the judges, and now I am confident that NOT A HOTEL can do it. Above all, I was very impressed by the architect’s attitude of never compromising on the concept and staying true to himself when asked for a compromise. I am looking forward to experiencing the rain on Yakushima in this building. —Masamichi Katayama When we were selecting the grand prize winner with the judges, the discussion went beyond "which work to choose" to "how to make this living room ceiling a reality." These three people are truly a dream team for me. However, seeing how they were contemplating how to make it happen, I knew this one was the only one. I felt that this proposal was so appealing and that everyone wanted to see it. From this moment on, the NOT A HOTEL team will work together with the architect to make his vision a reality. —Shinji Hamauzu

Steven Chu's acceptance speech

A lot of emotions are going through me right now. Thank you so much for the kind words, Bjarke. I'd like to first thank my partner who took time off her important work to support me on this trip. And I would like to thank the members of the jury. I'm sure it's not easy to go through 3000 A2 sheets of drawings and to select 30 and then to select 10 and then finally to select one. During Bjarke’s first comment after my presentation, you mentioned that “Sound of Rain” evokes some sort of memories of [Finnish-American architect Eero] Saarinen. Perhaps you intended it to be quite a casual comment, but it quite moved me because it reminded me of a teacher of mine who passed away 10 years ago who trained at the firm that was formerly Saarinen’s practice. My teacher, he eventually became a postmodernist, but this could be one of those things where, you know, where the inheritance skips a generation. And although I wasn’t thinking of him when I was designing Sound of Rain, maybe Saarinen is sort of speaking through me in some way and through “Sound of Rain.” Finally, I'd like to give a big sincere thanks to NOT A HOTEL and Hamauzu-san for organizing such a wonderful competition. This is one of the best competitions I've ever participated in. This of course, is an incredible result, but I'd like to say that I enjoyed the process equally, if not more, and I'm really grateful to have the opportunity to continue working on Sound of Rain with NOT A HOTEL. Thank you.

List of Excellent Award and Honorable Mention winners

The judges' overall comments and acceptance speeches from each finalist are available online.

A project team is now working to build “Sound of Rain”

NOT A HOTEL has already formed a project team for "Sound of Rain" and is moving towards its realization. The previous grand prize winner is now being sold as NOT A HOTEL KITAKARUIZAWA NATURE WITHIN. Construction on the project will begin this spring in Karuizawa and is scheduled to be completed next year. Please look forward to the architecture born from the NOT A HOTEL DESIGN COMPETITION, which will create new experiences and encounters.