dpa lighting consultants were delighted to be asked to work in collaboration with GA Design, Marriott Hotels and Mori Trust on the first international luxury hotel in Nara, Japan. The new JW Marriott is located a short distance from the Nara Park and ancient temples which provided inspiration for the project. The simplicity of heavy timber beams and stone from the temples and local homes have been reinterpreted by Joanna Biggs, lead Interior Designer for this hotel together with references to the local landscape and culture.

The guests receive a warm welcome with the feeling of a luxury residential home due to the natural interior finishes and warm coloured lamps. The connection with nature is immediate in the lobby such as the panoramic view of mountains surrounding Nara, drawn on the wall behind the reception. The lighting is irradiating to this artwork by colour temperature changing lamps which are programmed to synchronize with the daylight outside.

Client: Mori Trust
Hotel Operator: Marriott Hotels and Resorts
Interior Designer: GA Design
Photography: Courtesy of JW Marriott Hotel Nara, Japan