Zenbo Seinei Zen Retreat & Restaurant, Japanese Building News, New Japan Architecture Photos

Zenbo Seinei Retreat & Restaurant on Awaji Island

22 Mar 2022

Architect: Shigeru Ban

Location: Awaji Island, Japan

Zenbo Seinei, Japan

Awajishima Resort Inc. (Headquarters: Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, President: Yukari Ohinata) will open Zenbo Seinei, a Zen meditation retreat and restaurant, in the spring of 2022 in the northern part of Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture.

In recent years, the spread of Covid-19 and the resulting restrictions on various activities, as well as rapid changes in the business landscape, have led to major shifts in people’s attitudes and values towards life and work. Amidst this, there has been a growing interest in opportunities to reassess one’s own contentment in environments rich in nature, and in lifestyles that promote physical and mental well-being.

Zenbo Seinei is positioned on the 135th Meridian East in the northern part of Awaji Island, in a tranquil environment surrounded by mountains. The building was designed by Shigeru Ban, an architect who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2014), one of the most prestigious awards in the architecture industry, and features a 100-meter-long wooden deck where guests can experience Zen meditation in the open-air with a 360-degree panoramic view, as well as healthy “Zenbo (Zen-monk) Cuisine” uniquely created incorporating porridge, tofu and Awaji Island vegetables. The retreat also offers a wide range of facilities, including an open-air bath on a 3,000m² site, to promote mental and physical well-being and provide a mindfulness experience that cannot be experienced in the city.

Through its opening, Zenbo Seinei aims to create a society where people can lead healthy and fulfilling lives, both physically and mentally.

Shigeru Ban Architect

Born in Tokyo, Shigeru Ban established Shigeru Ban Architects in 1985, and in 1995 founded the Voluntary Architects Network (VAN), a disaster relief organization. He is best known for his work in disaster recovery housing using recycled materials such as paper tubes.

His major works include the Oita Prefectural Art Museum, the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre in Shizuoka, and La Seine Musicale. He has received numerous awards including the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2014), l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2014), the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice (2017) and the Medal of Honor, Japan (Purple Ribbon) (2017). He is also a professor in the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University.

Shigeru Ban Architect, Japan

Design: Zen Wellness Seinei – https://www.zenbo-seinei.com/

Zenbo Seinei, Awaji Island Retreat & Restaurant images / information received 220322

Location: Awaji Island, Japan, East Asia

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