All day place Hotel by DDAA: A Public House Experience in the Heart of Shibuya

A New Urban Hospitality Concept: The Hotel as a Public Space

Located midway between the urban energy of Shibuya and the calm sophistication of Aoyama, all day place Hotelreimagines the idea of a city hotel. Designed by DDAA, this 160-room hotel is conceived as a "public house in the city", offering more than just accommodations—it creates a shared community space that dissolves boundaries between the private and public realms.

Facing the vibrant Mitake Park, the hotel embraces the natural vibrancy and ambient sounds of the city, intentionally welcoming spontaneity and human interaction into its architecture.

Design Philosophy: Opening Up to the Street

Rejecting the traditional grand hotel entrance, the architects opted for a more open, casual, and community-integrated front. In a post-pandemic world, natural ventilation and openness became priorities. The entire ground level is accessible and transparent, with operable doors that blur the line between indoors and outdoors.

Outdoor seating, flowerbeds, terraces, and low concrete bench walls were strategically integrated. These elements not only enhance interaction but are designed at a height where guests can place coffee, beer, or a quick snack—turning the façade into a dynamic social extension of the hotel lobby.

Materiality: Everyday Materials, Extraordinary Use

A core design concept of “mitate”—the Japanese art of reinterpreting objects beyond their original function—runs throughout the hotel. In this spirit:

• Melamine-faced plywood, commonly found in supermarkets, is used across guest rooms with rough-cut edges exposed for texture and honesty.
• Custom-fired tiles from Tajimi, Gifu, unify the interiors and exteriors, flowing from terraces to suites—including bathrooms—maintaining visual and material consistency.
• A deep appreciation for Oribe Ware aesthetics influenced the color palette and glazing techniques, honoring Japanese craft heritage in a modern context.

Function-First Furniture: Minimal, Multi-Use, Modular

In a bid to maximize space and reduce clutter, furniture elements were designed to serve multiple functions:

• A wash counter extends as a desk.
• A bed frame doubles as a bench with city views.
• A single modular piece combines a TV console, hanging bar, and mirror.

This approach not only reduces material and installation costs but also simplifies the guest experience through intuitive and efficient spatial planning.

Diverse Room Types for Modern Travelers

From compact, functional rooms ideal for business travelers to larger suites tailored for groups, couples, and families, the hotel accommodates a broad demographic. Each room is unified by a consistent material theme, but differentiated by layout flexibility and multi-use furnishings.

Blending Park Life with Interior Design

Tiles, greenery, and park-inspired finishes extend indoors, echoing the landscape of Mitake Park and reinforcing the idea that city life and nature can coexist. This urban-park synergy is present not only at the entrance but throughout the hotel, connecting all spaces—lobbies, lounges, suites, and terraces.

All the photographs are works of Kenta Hasegawa