If you check into Aman Kyoto looking to be wowed, you will be sorely disappointed. Nothing stands out in this sprawling 24,000 sqm estate hugged by the densely forested foothills of Hidari Daimonji on one side and outlined by the gurgling Kamiyakawa River on the other. Everything blends in.
The latest addition to the Aman group, and the last Aman project in the lifetime of Kerry Hill – long-time friend and collaborator of Aman’s founder Adrian Zecha – is discreet to a fault. Hill fell in love with the gardens 20 years ago – it was he who told Zecha that this place, and this place only, shall Aman Kyoto be built, inspiring a decade-long courtship to woo the former owners of the estate – and his reverence for the space is expressed in the invisibility of the resort’s architectural design.
The low-rise units housing the restaurant, spa and rooms are uniformly clad in long strips of dark wood on the exterior, allowing them to disappear into the web of light and shadows cast through the branches of the trees. And when you step into your expansive room, there are no eye-catching elements, only floor-to-ceiling panels that run the length of the space, drawing your attention to the beauty of the foliage outside.
Apart from its generous 60 sqm size – approximately twice that of the shoebox studio units of today – the simply decorated rooms offer little hint of extravagance. Where are the branded amenities? The iconic designer furniture pieces? The perfectly composed little nooks for Instagram? For a resort with prices starting from $2,527 per night – breakfast not included even – it doesn’t seem to be offering much. Or does it?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2020 من The PEAK Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2020 من The PEAK Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
From Screen to Store
Heini Zachariassen, founder of global wine rating app Vivino on how its first retail store in the world brings data-driven curation to wine lovers.
In the Dining Spotlight
Renowned Dutch chef Sergio Herman, whose name has been associated with the Michelin Guide in the Netherlands and Belgium, is expanding his Asian footprint with his Singapore outpost, Le Pristine in Grand Hyatt Singapore.
All for One
How would you navigate a corner if you were hearing-impaired or enjoy school if you were on the spectrum? These architects posit that inclusive design must be part of mainstream standards to improve overall living environments.
Pods and Swirling Staircases
This quirky and playful home designed by Park Associates is shaped after its owners, a young family with three children.
Stories Behind the Kebava
Sufiyanto A. S., one half of the duo behind the Kebaya.Societe Instagram account, has had enough of seeing Malay identity erased and forgotten.
Good to Go
Driving classic Jaguars on the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit is all the magic a motorhead needs.
Seasons of the Snake
Japanese architect Tadao Ando once again works his magic for Bvlgari, with the Serpenti Tubogas as an artistic canvas for nature's cyclical transformation.
Phoenix Rising
One gutsy retired pharmaceutical executive rescued two-century-old Swiss watchmaker Bovet, and today, its presence is stronger than ever in Southeast Asia.
Con Amore, Leggiero, Presto!
Chan Weitian injects new insights into Presto Drycleaners, blending operational innovation with time-honoured values.
Preserving Paradise
Gaya Island Resort takes eco-tourism beyond the expected, blending conservation efforts with authentic luxury.
