Hotel Uketamo

In the heart of Taipei’s bustling Daan District, Hotel Uketamo redefines the urban sanctuary through the lens of Japanese philosophy: "Uketamo", the state of total acceptance. The design team transformed hotel lobby and circulation into a "Vertical Pilgrimage” rooted in the spiritual heritage of the Yamabushi monks from the Three Sacred Mountains of Dewa. Each level of this architectural intervention mirrors the sacred peaks' symbolism of existence: Past, Present, and Future.

By reinterpreting this ancient pilgrimage within a contemporary urban void, the team crafted a "Staircase of Time." This ritualistic path invites travelers to embark on a meditative ascent, allowing the soul to progress through a profound spiritual realignment. As guests traverse the levels, they move beyond the physical structure to experience a state of rebirth, ultimately restoring the spirit to its primal "Zero" state.

The center staircase is a vertical 'Cosmic Axis' bridging the celestial and the terrestrial, guided by the principle of 'as above, so below.' The Zenith, a spiritual 'Sun,' casts light captured by a 'Mirror Moon' at the base, forming a Complete Circle of the universal cycle. This resonance between Past, Present, and Future reflects how the vastness of the universe and life’s reincarnation are held within the self.

Within this axis, the staircase serves as a cinematic platform for a 7-meter long tapestry, “Yamago Agu”(Look up to Sacred Mountain)<山を仰ぐ>, bespoke from the legendary Yamagata Dantetsu <山形緞通> (est. 1935). As guests traverse the levels, their vision evolves through a shifting perspective: from a humble look-up (awe) at the mountains roots to a clear overlook (clarity) at its peak. This movement, echoing the transition from dawn to dusk, reflects an internal evolution, positing that the 'angle of the heart' ultimately determines how one perceives the mountain of life.

Extending this metaphor, the staircase links the 4th to 6th floors in a living allegory of growth. This Arboreal Journey maps life onto space: the 4th Floor (Roots) features heavy, grounded textures; the 5th (Branches) mimics a vibrant canopy; and the 6th (Leaves) achieves transcendence through 'water shadows.' As guests ascend, architecture physically lightens, guiding them toward ultimate acceptance.