Bottega Veneta's Tomas Maier Continues the Campaign for Tokyo's Hotel Okura
A continuation of an international campaign since last year to save the hotel.
Tokyo saw the end of an era last week with the long-dreaded closing of the main wing of the perennial Hotel Okura which, in its 53 years of operation, saw such distinguished guests such as Presidents Ford, Reagan, Nixon, and Obama, and royalty such as Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Japan’s own Emperor Hirohito. Since last year, news of the hotel’s imminent closure and the eradication of one more beautifully preserved icon of mid-century modernism has struck a deep chord with many people worldwide, most notably Bottega Veneta’s Creative Director Tomas Maier, who subsequently embarked on a campaign to draw attention to the Okura’s superiority in construction and aesthetics. Assembling a cast including Marc Newson, David Adjaye and Ezra Vogel to speak on their own connection to the hotel, it seems that Maier will continue to push for the Okura’s preservation for future generations to enjoy. Support the campaign here, and find a tribute by Monocle to the hotel’s last days below.
