Nobu Ryokan Malibu
Nobu Hospitality Group’s new boutique motel, Nobu Ryokan Malibu, showcases the combined efforts from previous Nobu collaborators Studio PCH and Montalba Architects.
Located on the famed Carbon Beach along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, Nobu Ryokan Malibu is a completely renovated 1950s-era beach motel, which combines the minimalist aesthetic of traditional Japanese inns with the cool elegance of the California coastline.
A simple, chic entrance opens onto an ocean-facing courtyard. Immediately guests are enveloped by a peaceful ambiance, as the soft sounds of the waterfall fill the courtyard and palm trees sway in the breeze over lush gardens, which fill the space with native California plants. Guests can wander the garden’s meandering paths, which lead to an intimate enclave featuring a grand outdoor board-formed concrete fireplace, or to the inn’s central ipe wood deck with expansive views of the Malibu pier to the west, the Palos Verdes peninsula to the east and the endless ocean to the south.
The two-story, 9,200 square foot building features 16 stunningly unique ocean-view suites and bungalows. Ample skylights and strategically placed sliding glass doors fill the spaces with an abundance of warm, natural light. Though no two suites are the same, guest suites are defined by thoughtful Japanese inspired design elements. Elements such as tatami mats, shoji screens, and sandy colored full height limestone walls evoke the warm California spirit. Each room features a custom teak soaking tub placed beneath a skylight which sets the tone for a ritual of relaxation. Through the reflections of nature in architecture, the design team emphasized the harmony of indoor and outdoor spaces, which culminates in a profound and serene experience.
Signature touches in the details have been carefully designed and artfully crafted from the knuckle joints of the exterior teak siding to the selected earth tones of the custom colored board-formed concrete walls. This project was a true collaboration between the design team, the owner, and the crafts people tasked with fabricating each element of construction.
