Yasuyuki KAWANISHI + ICHIBANSEN / nextstations
​川西 康之 + 株式会社イチバンセン 一級建築士事務所 / ネクストステーションズ

Albergo Diffuso is a dispersed accommodation concept that originated in Italy, where the entire town is envisioned as a single hotel. Guest rooms, dining spaces, and reception areas are scattered throughout the town, allowing visitors to stay not merely as tourists but as temporary residents immersed in the local life. By utilizing vacant houses and historic buildings, the system preserves regional landscapes and culture while fostering new forms of vitality.

In Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture, this Albergo Diffuso model is being introduced for the first time. As a starting point, a rice granary built in the Edo period has been renovated into a combined reception, café, and lodging facility. The architectural composition highlights the existing 200-year-old black pine beams and columns, maintaining their presence as structural and spatial elements. Bright plaster walls contrast with the dark timber, creating a dialogue between old and new.

Upon entering the café, one’s gaze is immediately drawn to the powerful timber beams stretching across the double-height space. Soft light reflects gently off the plaster surfaces, illuminating the interior while a pleasant breeze moves through the room. The guest area is designed as a maisonette; ascending the stairs reveals the original ceiling structure and beams that retain the texture of time. On the wall, an artwork depicting the sea of Hirado is rendered directly in plaster.