Hotel Polynya 1992

This quiet hotel sits at the foot of Mount Shari amid the beautiful Hokkaido landscape. Architect Toyo Ito was commissioned to design this low-cost yet deeply inviting hotel.
The lighting design intended to bring out the landmark quality of the glass block wall in the guest room hallway, and the symbolic power of entrance court with its thin layer of water. Above all, the change in appearance of the glass block guest room hallway from day to night is a clear statement of the dynamism of architectural lighting. This is a fine example of how simple details can be used to create the necessary and sufficient lighting effect.