Andaz Tokyo

The story of Andaz Tokyo is one of reunions, shared memories, and a vision that looks forward to the future by connecting to the past. The property of Andaz Tokyo of a collaboration of a team comprised of Mori Building, Hyatt hotels and tonychi each of whom share a story that goes back many years with their shared passion of desiring to contribute to the world of urban living and hospitality.

The Andaz brand was envisioned several years earlier by Hyatt hotels and tonychi as a new urban hotel brand positioned to meet the new challenges of the hospitality experience for today’s urban lifestyle. “Andaz” is a Hindi word meaning “self expression” allowing this emerging brand to explore the creative expression with its location. Andaz 5th Avenue in New York, completed in 2010, was the international debut of the Andaz brand. The vision and the features of the property served as narrative and tribute of the unique aspects of New York residential living: its brownstones, its Pre-war style residences and loft apartments. The property also explored new concepts on the arrival experience.

The owner and developer of Andaz Tokyo, Mori Building, has contributed to visionary properties that have redefined urban life in the past generation such as Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills and Shanghai’s World Financial Center. Hyatt and tonychi have both shared s these collaborations with Mori Building with Park Hyatt Shanghai and the dining venues of Grand Hyatt Tokyo at Roppongi Hills.

Hyatt and tonychi joined forces again with the conception of Andaz Tokyo. Mori Building envisioned a property that would transform an area of Tokyo into a new urban neighborhood where residential life, work life and leisure lifestyles all connect. It is a new concept of urban life that evolves the previously conceived notions of community separated from each other.

According to Tony Chi, Principal and Founder of tonychi, “I consider Andaz Tokyo as our Andaz 2.0, Andaz 5th Avenue was our Andaz 1.0 which expressed the story of New York. Andaz Tokyo is also an expression of Tokyo and Japan, but it reflects on the past to envision the community of tomorrow.” Inspired by the essence of Japan, the forming of memories that connect the past, present and future, Andaz Tokyo redefines the hotel experience as a center for a neighborhood in a transitional area of Tokyo by exploring the interaction of art, architecture, space planning. Reflecting and expands the Andaz brand definition as a hotel expressing its unique character and expression in culture and location.

Inspired by the essence of Japan, the forming of memories that connect the past, present and future, Andaz Tokyo redefines the hotel experience as a center for a neighborhood in a transitional area of Tokyo by exploring the interaction of art, architecture, space planning. Reflecting and expands the Andaz brand definition as a hotel expressing its unique character and expression in culture and location.

Located in the heart of Tokyo in the area of Toranomon Hills, an area experiencing a transformation from a former predominant business community into a diverse one composed of residents , workers and travelers, the property explores how a hotel property can evolve from its typical hotel definition into an experience of the new and familiar where workers, residents and travelers all gather, a place where memories are made forever imprinted on each us coming from ordinary moments of a meeting of new friends or from the extraordinary moments such as one’s first impression of Tokyo and Japan.

The design vision was to create an intimate experience of Japan throughout the entire property, an experience formed by Japan’s relationship with nature, a harmony found in the purest form of its native materials. The experience of Japan immediately greets visitors upon their arrival at the porte-cochere The predominance of washi paper throughout the hotel reflects the design inspiration of a place where memories are forever made.

In a land renowned for its fine quality of paper and the Japanese origami paper art form, an art form composed by making intricate folds of paper, these elements are predominant throughout the property. Just as each fold represents a making of a new form of expression, washi guides you throughout your first arrival at the porte cochere throughout the art gallery corridor into the passenger lift, throughout each of the space. A common palette composed of walnut, basalt stone and bronze including washi are all subtle in their simplicity, giving comfort in their harmony, yet marvel in their contrasting tones.

Andaz Tokyo reflects the past, captivates the present and beholds a future journey timelessly evolving with the community of Toranomon Hills. It is the unique experience of Japan and the common familiarity to gather together with friends and guests. When one experiences Andaz Tokyo, one is the connected through a journey of the senses with the story of Tokyo and Japan and its journey of today and tomorrow. Most importantly, one is intimately connected with a community. The experience is memorable and priceless. This is the experience of hospitality.

tonychi
Tony Chi, Principal
William Paley, Senior Associate
Nelson Bicol, Senior Associate
Lillian Wu, Senior Project Coordinator

Interior Lighting Project Team: David Singer, Senior Associate, Minako Koyama, Associate
Branding and Graphic Design: Robert Louey
Hotel Management: Hyatt