Hoshinoya Nara Kangoku wins EDIDA Japanese Social Design Project award

Hoshinoya Nara Kangoku, a luxury hotel created by repurposing the former Old Nara Prison, has received the ‘Japanese Social Design Project’ award at the ELLE DECO International Design Awards (EDIDA) 2027.

The award recognizes the project for its successful integration of historical preservation and luxury hospitality, highlighting the social significance of sustainable cultural property utilization. Designed by Rie Higashi of the Azuma Environmental and Architectural Research Institute, the hotel transforms the Important Cultural Property into a heritage destination.

The former prison, originally built by the Meiji government, features distinctive red brick architecture and a radial ‘Haviland system’ layout. The hotel project, a joint venture between the state and the private sector, aims to protect cultural assets through tourism. The design preserves the historical essence of the central guardhouse and former lecture hall while converting former solitary confinement cells into high-end suites.