Architecture News Plus (ANP) – Architecture and Design Magazine

Harmonie H at State Himeji Bank

This is a project by Tao Thong Villa Co. Ltd. + PROCESS5 Design and it is located at Minamimachi, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan. It was submitted to Architecture News Plus (ANP) by PROCESS5 Design. Project's program: Conversion and retrofitting for wedding hall and restaurant. There are sixteen images for Harmonie H at State Himeji Bank.

: © Tao Thong Villa Co. Ltd.

Project details

Project name: Harmonie H at State Himeji Bank
Location: Minamimachi, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan
Program: Conversion and retrofitting for wedding hall and restaurant
Area: B1F: 636.74 m2 • 1F: 524.72 m2 • 2F: 138.78 m2 • 3F: 622.46 m2 • RF: 54.18 m2 • Total Area: 1976.88 m2
Year: Construction: January 2011 to March 2011
Project by: Tao Thong Villa Co. Ltd. + PROCESS5 Design
Team: Principal Designers: Hideki Kureha, Noriaki Takeda, Ikuma Yoshizawa
Others: Contractor; Kajita Corporation (Satoshi Fukasaka, Harmonie Home • Lighting Designer: Ushiospax (Mariko Hayashi • Furniture: Cassina IXC (Yoshiki Tsuji) • Furniture: The Penny Wise • Furniture: Decorative Art Studio (Michinobu Kurotaki) • Iron design: CTD • Iron design: ANAP • Special Monitor System: Hanamura Trading • Special Material: HUG • Fabric: Manas Trading (Yukiko Umeyama)

Project images

Designer's statement

We received a request to undertake a project to renovate a building which has coexisted as a bank amid the castle town of Himeji for half a century, located near Himeji Station, into a wedding hall.

When visiting the planned location for the first time, we felt it would be necessary for this building to give the impression that it is a landmark with a historical legacy in the memories of the people of Himeji. Thus, we felt it our construction mission to make this facility into one loved by the people of Himeji.

According to the plan, we decided to create 2 banquet halls, 1 wedding chapel and an attached space.

The wedding chapel named “CHAPEL DE CORDULA” was secured through structural reinforcement of a large 9 meter-high space from the first basement floor to the 3 floor slab.

Giving the impression of stained glass, a total of 210 custom-made pendant lights consisting of 7 colors were suspended. The space encompassed by beautiful lighting is a stadium shape so that the guests may look on the bride and groom and their moment of exchanging vows.

The banquet halls are on the first and third floors. The walls of the first floor banquet hall “HANNELORE” are decorated with various paintings, primarily oil paintings.

The third floor banquet hall “ARTDUCUT” has as its theme elements related to food such as cutlery and flame, and has a lively atmosphere with the operation of a restaurant as well. The banquet hall and the kitchen have a visually open plan with only a sheet of glass partitioning them. From the guest seats, the entire kitchen can be overlooked, being able to enjoy food while sensing the performance of the chefs.

Cafe “Lacer de yuit” located on the first floor was planned so that the customers can enjoy the free atmosphere, open to the town. The entire facility is decorated with paintings and sculptures by domestic and foreign artists, a pleasant welcome to the guests.

The letter “H” contained in the name of facility “HARMONIE H AT STATE HIMEJI BANK” brings to mind many feelings such as ‘Happy’, ‘Human’, ‘Harmonie’, and ‘Himeji’, all starting with the letter ‘H’.

This ceremony hall which emerged in the historical castle town of Himeji, has become a facility which bonds people, makes visitors happy and aims to achieve harmony with the people of the town.