Bare Soul
Vogue Singapore|November 2023
Shishi-Iwa House is a small collection of intimately crafted boutique hotels in Karuizawa that marries architectural experiments with century-old Japanese tradition.
CHANDREYEE RAY
Bare Soul

The Japanese concept of ma is centred on the value of emptiness. It can be found in the silence between the notes which make music or the purposeful pauses in speech that make words stand out. You may even see it at the end of the respectful Japanese bow, when one deliberately holds at the deepest point of their bend to ensure there is enough ma to convey feeling.

In architecture and design, ma lives in the spaces where nothing is added, like the carefully positioned gaps between tatami mats in a traditional Japanese teahouse or alcoves left intentionally empty to display a single artwork or object. Engawa, a veranda-like space that surrounds a traditional Japanese house, exemplifies ma by offering a transitional zone. Instead of separating the inside and outside environments, it connects them—blending the manmade into nature.

Over time, the ubiquitous presence of engawa in Japanese architecture has quietly faded. With it, the traditions of ma have disappeared from modern Japanese buildings in pursuit of urban, mass-produced housing that prioritises privacy and security over openness and connection.

An hour’s shinkansen ride away from Tokyo is Karuizawa, a picturesque town nestled in the mountains near Nagano. Wrapped in lush forest, the small town is known for mild summers, a gorgeous natural landscape and easy access to activities such as hiking, golfing and skiing.

What many may not know is that Karuizawa is also home to a secretive collection of three intimately crafted boutique hotels, known together as Shishi-Iwa House. Located minutes away from one another by foot, the three interconnected properties offer under 13 guest rooms each, making the experience of taking up temporary residence in any one of them genuinely exclusive.

この記事は Vogue Singapore の November 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Vogue Singapore の November 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

VOGUE SINGAPOREのその他の記事すべて表示
As You Like It
Vogue Singapore

As You Like It

Slender new designs to the Tiffany & Co. Lock collection make it a breeze to style and wear. Vogue Singapore's editor-in-chief Desmond Lim takes the jewels for a spin on Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw, Christabel Chua and Lennard Yeong.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024 Issue
In Its Own Way
Vogue Singapore

In Its Own Way

It’s easy, low-stakes even, to praise a classically beautiful watch. How about trying to appreciate and understand timepieces with aesthetics that challenge?

time-read
4 分  |
September 2024 Issue
Fashion's Fresh Slate
Vogue Singapore

Fashion's Fresh Slate

As we contend with some of the industry’s biggest shake-ups, fashion experts weigh in on their predictions for the new season.

time-read
6 分  |
September 2024 Issue
LAU FEY
Vogue Singapore

LAU FEY

After winning her first Grammy, the songbird opens up about her Asian upbringing, body-doubling with her twin sister and how she sends her music through time.

time-read
7 分  |
September 2024 Issue
Sasha
Vogue Singapore

Sasha

With a career spanning several decades, countless runway shows and the record as the longest-serving model for Prada, the Russian supermodel and artist is widely recognised as one of the defining faces of the 2000s. Today, fashion's ultimate muse returns to grace the cover of Vogue Singapore's September issue, channelling the best of '80s kitsch and maximalism amid a flurry of daring silhouettes, striking embellishments and exuberant neon hues.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024 Issue
An Actor PREPARES
Vogue Singapore

An Actor PREPARES

Ahead of her new film 7he ustigators, Oscar-nominated actor Hong Chau sits down to talk about her preparation for the role, how her relationship with acting has evolved and what success means to her.

time-read
4 分  |
September 2024 Issue
CHYPRE &CHIC
Vogue Singapore

CHYPRE &CHIC

After 71 fragrances in the house's 187-year history, Hermès debuts its first chypre scent. Here's why Barenia, and the whopping 998 tests it took to birth it, matters to perfumer Christine Nagel.

time-read
5 分  |
September 2024 Issue
DECORA PLAY
Vogue Singapore

DECORA PLAY

In our local fashion landscape, where style often veers towards the plain and conventional, embracing the kitsch and vibrant world of Decora fashion represents a courageous defiance of the norm. Natasha Aliya Dawson, a local Decora dresser, talks about her journey with this bold style.

time-read
3 分  |
September 2024 Issue
On BEAT
Vogue Singapore

On BEAT

H&M Studio's new autumn/winter 2024 collection is an ode to jazz musicians.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024 Issue
A NEW VISION
Vogue Singapore

A NEW VISION

Daniel Lee's Burberry is at once a profound reflection of the past and a projection into the future. In a photo shoot capturing the essence of the new Burberry, Lee is joined by English supermodel Karen Elson and Thai actor Bright Vachirawit.

time-read
8 分  |
September 2024 Issue