Kengo Kuma creates 'Meditation House' with Jenga-like facade in Bavaria
By Andrew Manns 29 Apr 2019
The wellness space is located on a tract of woodland and is only accessible by foot. Credit: Photo by Erieta Attali
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has designed the "Meditation House" – a wellness facility and retreat – in the Bavarian woodlands outside Krün, Germany.
The 160 sq m outbuilding, which is only accessible by foot, is part of the 133-key Das Kranzbach spa hotel and features floor-to-ceiling windows, a tea room with artisan-designed tatami mats, and a meditation hall.
The look of the pavilion was inspired both by traditional Japanese wooden townhouses and by German chapels. The structure's facade, visibly its most distinguishable aspect, is comprised of 1,500 individual boards of fir wood.
This fact has led Studio Lois, a German architecture firm who collaborated with Kuma on the project, to liken the Meditation House to a Jenga-like low-rise.
In a description from its website, Kranzbach said: "We deliberately chose an architect from Japan. Meditation plays a significant role in the Far East, and Japan for hundreds of years has built houses predominantly out of wood.
"Architect Kengo Kuma is recognised as the master of combining nature and inspirational design."
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Kengo Kuma creates 'Meditation House' with Jenga-like facade in Bavaria
POSTED 29 Apr 2019 . BY Andrew Manns
To feel nature is very important. The people who use this space feel part of the forest – Kengo Kuma
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has designed the "Meditation House" – a wellness facility and retreat – in the Bavarian woodlands outside Krün, Germany.
The 160 sq m outbuilding, which is only accessible by foot, is part of the 133-key Das Kranzbach spa hotel and features floor-to-ceiling windows, a tea room with artisan-designed tatami mats, and a meditation hall.
The look of the pavilion was inspired both by traditional Japanese wooden townhouses and by German chapels. The structure's facade, visibly its most distinguishable aspect, is comprised of 1,500 individual boards of fir wood.
This fact has led Studio Lois, a German architecture firm who collaborated with Kuma on the project, to liken the Meditation House to a Jenga-like low-rise.
In a description from its website, Kranzbach said: "We deliberately chose an architect from Japan. Meditation plays a significant role in the Far East, and Japan for hundreds of years has built houses predominantly out of wood.
"Architect Kengo Kuma is recognised as the master of combining nature and inspirational design."
The outbuilding features a tea lounge and an 80 sq m meditation room. Credit: Image courtesy of Das Kranzbach
The structure's facade and ceiling are comprised of more than a thousand fir wooden boards. Credit: Image courtesy of Das Kranzbach
The Meditation House also features a zinc roof, reflecting local church architecture. Credit: Image courtesy of Das Kranzbach
Taichi Kuma, son of the celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, has designed a striking
new sauna for the Sana Mane glamping destination in southern Japan.
The historic Breakers Hotel in Long Beach, California, is set to reopen in mid-2024 as a
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts property after a significant restoration and redevelopment project.
The Bannatyne Group says it has officially bounced back from the pandemic, with both turnover
and profits restored to pre-2020 levels in 2023, according to its year-end results.
Kerzner International has signed deals to operate two new Siro recovery hotels in Mexico and
Saudi Arabia, following the launch of the inaugural Siro property in Dubai this February.
The US spa industry is continuing its upward trajectory, achieving an unprecedented milestone
with a record-breaking revenue of US$21.3 billion in 2023, surpassing the previous high of
US$20.1 billion in 2022.
Short-term incentives for exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead
to sustained increases in activity according to new research.