The 22 Most Notable Hotel Openings of 2020

Ace Hotel Kyoto: Ace Hotel Group’s Japanese debut necessitated a design reflective of a dynamic meeting between East and West. Kengo Kuma & Associates partnered with Atelier Ace and Los Angeles’ Commune Design to revitalize the former Kyoto Central Telephone Office—originally designed by modernist Tetsuro Yoshida in 1926—and bond it with a sleek new build. Kuma oversaw architecture for both volumes, while Commune and the Ace team transformed interiors into a tranquil, sophisticated sanctuary. Locally sourced artwork, several courtyards, and landscaped gardens further instill a sense of harmony and place across the 213-room oasis. A natural materiality that includes native woods, tatami, washi paper, glazed tile, and copper complements the ryokan-inspired interiors, designed at the intersection of tradition and provocation. (Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson)