For the VIP suites in this hotel in Kyoto, hammer-split bamboo (Hishigi) was used as part of the interior design. Hishigi is made by splitting a round bamboo culm and carefully hammering it along the fibers with a special tool until it flattens into a board-like form. Traditionally seen in Kyoto townhouses, its hallmark is the irregular cracks that appear naturally in the surface.

In this project, hishigi bamboo was combined with copper flat bars to create a clean, modern impression. At the approach, hishigi strips were applied to milky white acrylic panels and backlit, allowing light to softly filter through the bamboo’s organic cracks and bring the surface to life.