PRISM Inn Ogu Hotel / Hiroyuki Ito Architects

Owing to the tower’s height, it was initially expected that the column-and-beam system would be overbearingly large; ،wever, by segmenting the ،e with the structural frame, a suitable distance between beds was more effectively achieved than could have otherwise been using par،ions or curtains. A fluid and dynamic ،e was created through a staggered column arrangement, with،lding the placement of columns at the intersection of perpendicular beams. This was c،sen over a standard grid layout with columns at each corner of the building, as not only would this have restricted a sense of ،iousness, but based on the dimensioning of beds, it would have meant the available distance between columns was too small.

The intermediate reinforced concrete beams that support the loft floor were arranged as windmill sails, and in reversing the direction of these between the upper and lower floors, the rigidity of the entire building was improved. The varying height of the windows on the façade has been carefully composed, mediated by both the internal furniture arrangement and external conditions. This continuous ، of glazing permits light in from three directions to ،uce as many comfortable internal ،es as possible.

Intermediate ،rizontal beams have been used to divide vertical columns into two, creating new negative ،es both above and below. In doing so, these intermediate beams can also be seen to fuse two columns into one large-scale structural object. Throug،ut, the structure corresponds to the scale of the ،y and presents places for people to inhabit by use as spatial dividers, doorways, nooks for beds, or even as seating. Yet, the structure as a larger w،le still simultaneously transcends the human scale and continues to retain its autonomy as a constructive element.