HOKULEA Co., Ltd. Joins as Design Director for Value-Enhancement Project at Small Luxury Hotel 'JIVANA Miyakojima' on Iriomote Island

HOKULEA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture; President and CEO: Mayuki Ode), a first-class architectural firm dedicated to the philosophy of 'Creating Destinations of the World' and specializing in architectural design and interior planning for hotels and inns, announces its role as design director for the value-enhancement project of 'JIVANA Miyakojima,' a small luxury hotel. Following the renovation of seven all-suite villas between 2023 and 2024, the project will add seven new mezzanine-style suites with private pools. HOKULEA will also oversee the design of the entire 7,000㎡+ site, including restaurant renovations and the installation of a new private sauna. The Vision Behind Rebranding and Expansion: Deepening Architectural Philosophy to Weave the Land’s Memory into the Future Since its opening in April 2024, the hotel has grown into a beloved destination, achieving an annual occupancy rate exceeding 90%. For this expansion project, we sincerely asked ourselves: 'What elements can further elevate the value of this hotel, cultivated together with our guests?' During the major renovation from September 2023 to April 2024, infinity pools facing the ocean were installed in all rooms. This created a seamless visual continuity from the interior, through the pool, and into the sea. By blurring the boundaries between architecture and nature, we pursued a deeper sense of immersion. Low-slung architectural lines that echo the horizon, along with furnishings refined to the extreme, accentuate the vast presence of the sea before one’s eyes. This is also a modern interpretation of the traditional Japanese architectural philosophy that views buildings as subordinate to nature. For this expansion and rebranding, we have taken this philosophy further, advancing one step deeper in our pursuit of 'What kind of hotel allows the memory of this land to breathe more deeply?'—shaping our design accordingly. Bagasse Concrete: Elevating an Island’s Challenge into Architectural 'Rationality' and 'Beauty' Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 tons of sugarcane are produced annually in Okinawa Prefecture, generating over 180,000 tons of bagasse (sugarcane residue) each year during the sugar production process. While much of this is reused as factory fuel, around 20,000 tons have historically been discarded as unused waste. For this project, we developed and adopted 'bagasse concrete'—a building material that incorporates this underutilized resource into concrete. Our primary reason for choosing this material is not merely to showcase sustainability, but due to its structural rationality. Concrete is strong in compression but weak in 'bending and tensile strength.' However, by mixing in the resilient plant fibers of bagasse, the material functions as a high-performance composite that mutually compensates for these weaknesses. Furthermore, by returning a material born from the island’s industry back into its architecture, a uniquely local and beautiful texture—impossible to achieve with imported materials—resides within the space. Having implemented this original material in the existing seven rooms and confirmed its effectiveness, we continue to adopt it in the seven new suites. In the room interiors, natural textures such as native wood, leaves, and stone are woven in, unified with refined earth tones to create spaces that gently harmonize with Iriomote Island’s natural environment. Mezzanine Suites: Incorporating the Land’s Elevation Differences into Three-Dimensional Design All seven rooms in the new building are mezzanine-style suites equipped with private pools. The deliberate choice of a two-story structure stems from Iriomote Island’s gently sloping terrain. By avoiding excessive earthwork (terrain modification) caused by scattered single-story buildings and instead utilizing the land’s natural elevation differences in the design, we have minimized environmental impact while achieving unobstructed ocean views from every guest room. The rooms feature bedrooms, bathrooms, and pools on the lower level, with living-dining areas and a mini-kitchen on the upper level. On the lower floor, which includes the pool and terrace, the window-side bedroom is designed as an open atrium to create an even greater sense of openness. This three-dimensional design allows guests to feel light and breeze wherever they are, fully enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views of Iriomote Island’s beautiful sea. Comment from the Representative Director — Mayuki Ode Since opening, we are deeply grateful to our many guests for supporting us and helping this hotel grow into one with an annual occupancy rate exceeding 90%. This rebranding and expansion is not merely a scale-up. It is also a record of the deepening of our philosophy—honestly confronting the rare natural environment of Iriomote Island, and the memories of the local sugarcane industry, and exploring how architecture can connect them to the future. At this place, equipped with a rationally beautiful harmony with the environment, we invite you to experience the essential luxury that can only be found here. When the project reaches its full opening in 2027, we do not yet know how it will be evaluated across Asia. We believe the true evaluation will be determined over the next 10 years. Toward that promised day, we will continue to work diligently and sincerely. Name JIVANA Miyakojima Location 1130 Irabu Ikema-so, Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture 906-0502 Number of Rooms 14 rooms (7 existing + 7 new) Facilities Restaurant, bar, private sauna Site Area 7,059.91㎡ Total Floor Area 855.61㎡ (before expansion) Design Supervision HOKULEA Co., Ltd. Hotel Official Website https://www.jivana-miyako.com/ ◼️ About HOKULEA Co., Ltd. HOKULEA, based in Okinawa, operates under the philosophy of 'Creating Destinations of the World' as a first-class architectural firm specializing in architectural design and interior planning for hotels and inns. We sublimate the landscape of each location into architecture, designing one-of-a-kind resort hotels. We create experiences of 'aging optimization,' where value deepens over time even after completion. Company Name: HOKULEA Co., Ltd. Representative: Mayuki Ode Headquarters: 2-19-39 Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Green Heights Naha 209 Established: August 1, 2023 Business Activities: Architectural design and interior planning for hotels and inns Official Website: https://