From organic lighting to sculptural foliage, the design duo transforms eight floors at the top of a new Takana Gateway City high rise
Courtesy of JW Marriott Tokyo
The guests for the opening celebration of the new JW Marriott Tokyo filled the Takanawa Gateway City plaza facing the new JR station. This site, the second property for the Marriott JW brand in Japan after opening in Nara in 2020, coexists with a newly developed transportation, retail, culture and business hub. A more traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony with giant scissors was replaced by General Manager Christopher Clark, David S. Marriott and other company executives standing over a row of greenery with watering cans. At the signal, they watered the plants in unison as a symbolic gesture of nurturing a new era for the company in Tokyo.
George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg attended the opening festivities for the new hotel that they designed. Along with their team, Yabu Pushelberg envisioned the eight floors of one of the new towers as an elegant, organic, tranquil environment with beautiful shapes, art, sculptural ceramics and plants at every turn. Later that day, we sat down with Yabu and Pushelberg at the JW Bar to sip cocktails and tea, bask in the sunset’s warm glow and learn about their vision for creating a sensorial space at the top of a futuristic tower in Tokyo.
Courtesy of JW Marriott Tokyo
When asked about their long careers, Yabu smiles and says, “We finish each other’s sentences.” After placing his order, Pushelberg stands up—he’s distracted by the arrangement of the tables and chairs in the bar’s lounge area. He maneuvers them into a shape that he considers more pleasing. “What do you think of that?” he asks, while moving a small side table to overlap a shorter coffee table. “Better, right?” The plush chairs are now being tilted incrementally to angle towards the table’s curves.
Courtesy of JW Marriott Tokyo
“We’re always interested in the dichotomy of yin and yang, perfect and imperfect. Wabi sabi,” says Yabu. They, along with their Creative Director Joyce Mou and design team, collaborated with Hanabi: Art and Artists, Molteni&C, Lasvit, Henge and Studio Sawada Design, all playing essential roles to bring the vision to life. The bar walls are covered with a grid of cubes filled with ferns. A glowing freeform red orb hangs over the bartenders as a focal point that draws attention to the next room. Around the bend, a whimsical red wall and mural flanks a rotating tasting room in the 4-0-3 space—currently it’s focus is on Hibiki Whisky and will later highlight champagne and other spirits.
Courtesy of JW Marriott Tokyo
The reception area on the top floor greets guests with sweeping vistas of Tokyo Bay and Gotenyama Hill. A vibrant Kamakura-bori-inspired artwork curves over the reception desks. The hotel’s public spaces feature natural tones that are both serene and dramatic. Exploring the floors leads to curving staircases connecting guest reception down to the restaurants below. “We jagged some of the corridors on purpose, so there’s a little bit of mystery and discovery,” Pushelberg says. “We think about how to create emotion. I like the sense of mystery, the sense of delight. To have joyousness and calmness.”
Photo by Julie Wolfson
As the elevators lead to the 200 guest rooms, two directions are offset by glass bridges. “The purple rain connects all the guests,” says Yabu. “It is the procession for where you go to rest,” Pushelberg adds. “The journey is as important as the place.” He describes the dark violet color as inspired by the sky just after sunset and the trails of Mount Fuji. The rooms offer a relaxing respite from the Tokyo metropolis. Many feature a bathtub in the window for another opportunity to relax and take in the view.
Courtesy of JW Marriott Tokyo
The Spa by JW features an infinity pool surrounded by rocks and glowing light forms with panoramic views of the city from floor to ceiling windows. The setting, gorgeous all day, provides stunning views of Tokyo sunrises and sunsets. Spa treatments are inspired by Japanese wellness traditions with holistic therapies designed to restore balance and well-being. Soon the hotel will also debut a series of Mindful Rooms on the spa floor with a special focus on holistic health.
Courtesy of JW Marriott Tokyo
While in the Takanawa Gateway City area, check out the newly opened NeWoMan with its numerous stores and eateries. Don’t miss the Luftbaum at the top two floors of the North Tower. The lush indoor garden experience offers more scenic views of Tokyo, music listening patios and several restaurant options including Soba Sun Sun.
The many dining experiences at the JW Marriot range from traditional bento breakfasts at Kako to a modern kappo menu at a counter with another astounding view at Saki. Sefino brings the flavors of the Mediterranean. Le Cres pairs artisanal croissants with coffee and afternoon desserts. And back at the JW Bar, Yabu and Pushelberg bid farewell with big smiles as they head out into Takanawa Gateway City for more adventures in Tokyo.
Yabu Pusheberg’s Wabi Sabi Wonderland at Tokyo’s new JW Marriott
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