By: Maria Williams
It’s time to recenter your inner world at The Kodō Hotel & Restaurant, cozily located in the heart of the Arts District of Los Angeles, California. The Kodō Hotel and Restaurant merges the peace and power of natural beauty with modern hospitality, pioneering an edgy twist on what we love about weekend getaways. Upon entrance to the modern dojo, guests are soaked in the aura of various earth tones and raw stone fragments. It’s no wonder why this atmosphere is considered ‘grounding’ to its visitors; the use of calcium, iron, sulfur, and magnesium – some of the smallest minerals found on our planet – anchor every wall, ceiling, and floor at the Kodō Hotel.
Interior designers Jen Whitaker and Emi Kitawaki of Gry Space, along with revered architect Matt Royce, saw potential in this colossal, once upon a time 1920s fire station. Excavations and renovations began on the property to restore the fire station into what now stands as The Kodō Hotel & Restaurant. The riveting project had a similar mission that its previous firefighter inhabitants had: to heal the wounded. Visions for The Kodō Hotel & Restaurant were led by the spirit of omotenashi – a Japanese form of hospitality rooted in care and mindfulness. Its core essence is rooted in ensuring that the needs of others are met, surpassing all expectations. “At the core, we are rooted in creating a mood, a feeling that offers calmness and beauty in darkness and solitude in quietness,” says the Gry Space duo.
Today, Kodō is no longer simply a vision of omotenashi, but a reality given a pulse by visitors. Each room bears intention and high quality design in order to make negative space feel like a deep breath of fresh air. Even the outdoor spaces and dining areas integrate seamlessly with the hotel’s arcane color wheel and toned interiors.
Photo Courtesy: The Kodō Hotel
Submerge yourself in the heat of an architectural marvel – built with intentions of restoring your inner spirit.
On the ground of the The Kodō Hotel & Restaurant, the main floor flows between an open check-in counter and the Kodō cafe, which showcases salvaged fire engine doors to engage with the. The Kodō Restaurant sits adjacent to the hotel and cafe with its own custom installed fire pit lounge, omakase sushi bar, and secluded dining room. The layout of each wing is purposeful, striving to maintain the winds of an intimate escape.
The upper floor hosts eight ryokan-style rooms complete with living and dining areas, spacious bathing spaces and shower heads, custom concrete sinks, walls rimmed with white gravel, king-sized futon beds, sizable windows, contemporary lighting fixtures, and disguised utilities. Reflective of a traditional Japanese inn, these rooms incorporate durable, raw materials to foster energy without reaching for extremes.
The Kodō Hotel & Restaurant is arranged with a freedom mindset where change and impermanence are accepted, minimalism and air space are valued, and soulful release is encouraged. In other words, when out of use, the restaurant seating can be positioned upright to become a fusion of ceramic utility, able to be used to eat food off of, or simply adored for its
ornate composition. All together, the Kodō Hotel & Restaurant turns away any focus from the chaotic outside world, turning guests inward towards a peaceful reset.
There is a popular belief that any stone bred by mother nature can interact with the human body and create a vibrational energy invisible to the eye. Frequencies encouraged by these vibrations leave the body and mind feeling quiet and clear. Anyone seeking wellness alongside relaxation must be aware of the stone lore. It’s this lore, partnered with a nuanced take on overnight accommodation and omotenashi service, that make Kodō more of an oasis than a hotel.
Published by: Martin De Juan
