architecture shaped by rainfall in yakushima
NOT A HOTEL announces Sound of Rain as the winner of its 2026 design competition, a proposal envisioned by Australian architect Steven Chu of Artefact Architects. THE boutique hotelwith it as a bowl terraceis to be erected on Yakushima, a forest island off the southern coast of Kyushu, Japan. Designed for a UNESCO World Heritage landscape shaped by constant rainfall, the project begins with a simple premise: rain is a condition that determines how architecture is shaped, inhabited and understood.
The competition called for a hybrid between private residence and hospitality, asking architects under the age of 40 to engage directly with Yakushima’s terrain. Chu’s answer treats precipitation as a spatial driver. Rather than resisting the island’s climate, the design accepts it as a constant presence, allowing the water to guide both form and experience throughout the site.
visualizations © Steven Chu
a roof that collects and releases water
Its design NOT A HOTELThe competition winner, Sound of Rain, features a wide, floating roof that collects rainfall and releases it along its perimeter. The water erases the edge in a continuous line, forming a shifting boundary between inside and outside. This controlled descent of the rain gives the building a clean structure, where circulation routes, sheltered zones and open terraces align with the movement of the water.
The ceiling appears thin and expansive, extending beyond the enclosed spaces below. Its curvature directs the runoff to specific points, where it falls in fixed sheets. The result is both practical and atmospheric. The building moderates rainfall while making its presence legible, turning an environmental constant into a design tool.
Sound of Rain Wins NOT A HOTEL 2026 Design Competition Set in Yakushima
inhabiting the threshold between refuge and landscape
Architect Steven Chu organizes the floor plan of Sound of Rain around a sequence of thresholds, rather than closed rooms. A circular veranda with a sunken fire feature anchors the main living area, opening to distant ocean views. Adjacent areas remain partially exposed, allowing air and moisture to pass through while maintaining the sense of enclosure defined by the upper roof.
Inside, the materials remain restrained. Smooth surfaces gently curve to guide movement, while glass openings frame the surrounding forest and coastline. A bedroom sits along the perimeter, positioned to receive filtered light and the constant sound of rain. The atmosphere changes throughout the day as the weather changes, giving each space a distinct character shaped by water, light and temperature.
a wide curved roof collects rainwater and releases it along its perimeter
explore the non-hotel design competition
Sound of Rain was selected from 1,058 entries submitted from 112 countries and regions, marking an important moment for the NOT A HOTEL platform, which continues to commission architecture directly connected to place. The jury, incl Bjarke Ingels, I’m Fujimotoand Masamichi Katayamarecognized the proposal for its ability to link environment, structure and hospitality into a cohesive concept. Explore other submissions to this year’s design competition here!
the project incorporates a residential and hospitality program in Yakushima’s UNESCO forested landscape
a circular outdoor space with a sunken fire feature anchors the main living area
project information:
name: Sound of Rain
architect: Artefact Architects | @artefactarchitects
brand: NOT A HOTEL | @notahotel_official
chief architect: Steven Chu
