Inspired by the hotel’s deep connection to nature, our lighting design for 1 Hotel Tokyo supports three core principles: biophilic design, sustainability, and Japanese craftsmanship. The scheme was developed to integrate seamlessly with the interior architecture, using light to enhance natural materials, living greenery, and reclaimed elements throughout the guest experience.

A key feature of the arrival sequence is the Oya stone wall in the 38th-floor lobby. As a natural material, Oya stone varies in colour and texture and continues to change over time. To celebrate these characteristics, concealed cave lighting with adjustable brightness and colour temperature was carefully tuned on site, creating the effect of natural daylight washing across the stone and revealing its colour and texture.
Biophilic design is expressed through the illumination of planting and greenery, helping to create a forest-like atmosphere within the hotel. For living walls beyond the reach of daylight, specialised lighting delivers the precise light levels and colour temperatures required for healthy plant growth, mirroring natural rhythms while contributing to guest wellbeing.

The lighting also reinforces the hotel’s commitment to sustainability. Reclaimed and salvaged materials from the construction process have been repurposed into features including the iconic “1” sign, the reception counter, and guest room artworks. To faithfully reveal the colours and textures of these materials, we utilised high colour rendering light sources (Ra92) paired with a warm 2700K colour temperature, ensuring that their character and provenance remain visible and authentic.

Careful attention was given to concealing the lighting within the architecture. Downlight trims and reflector finishes were custom-blended to complement the interior palette, while low-glare optics ensure a comfortable visual environment. This allows the focus to remain on the materials and atmosphere, rather than the fixtures themselves.
The decorative lighting also supports the sustainability narrative: lounge pendants, crafted from recycled banana stalks combine responsible material use with carefully positioned light sources that create a warm and inviting ambience for guests.

The result is a lighting scheme that quietly enhances the hotel’s biophilic vision, revealing the beauty of natural and recycled materials while creating a welcoming environment deeply connected to nature.

Client: Starwood Hotels
Interior Design: CRÈME/Jun Aizaki Architecture & Design
Photography: Taran Wilkhu Photography