White Dormitory for il Vento

A renovation project to convert an old vacant house into a dormitory in a village on Teshima, an island lying in the Seto Inland Sea. A dormitory for restaurant staff of IL VENTO which was created as artwork of Tobias Rehberger for Setouchi International Art Festival 2010. The main focus for this project is how we make most of the vacant houses increasing by depopulation.

Photo by Hiroshi Mizusaki. Published on September 13, 2013.

To insert new elements without disturbing the surrounding landscape of the village which remains unchanged from the old days, the existing exterior wall facing the lane was left untouched. Though deteriorated traditional Japanese style roof was replaced, the basic form and color of the original was adopted to the new one only using different materials, you hardly notice the change from the outside.

Photo by Hiroshi Mizusaki. Published on September 13, 2013.

On the other hand, all the furnishings and functional features of dormitory as well as a courtyard are reconstructed using various white materials such as woods, stones, and plasters with different expressions and tones. In Japan, white is not only a symbol of new beginning, but the sacred color representing purity, innocence, and peace.

Photo by Hiroshi Mizusaki. Published on September 13, 2013.

Interior space is comprised of three private rooms and a lounge, and a small courtyard set in the middle. The huge white terrace linked by lounge realizes the open space with sense of relief and freedom.

Photo by Hiroshi Mizusaki. Published on September 13, 2013.

Contrasts between the inside and outside of the building, that is new and old, proposes to expand the possibilities of the existing architecture on the island and island itself.