JOOPITER to Auction Once-in-a-Lifetime NOT A HOTEL Experience

Pharrell‘s JOOPITER is auctioning a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay in one of Japan’s most sought-after destinations. Following the announcement of NIGO‘s involvement with the creative direction of the upcoming NOT A HOTEL TOKYO, the first in the area, JOOPITER has partnered with NOT A HOTEL to give both architecture and art fans a chance to stay at one of the world’s most unique properties as a part of its Out of This World auction.

The Tokyo property is built over a cliff, overlooking the Tokyo Bay and Mount Fuji. NIGO, who curated the entire experience down to the use of masterpiece furniture from Jean Prouvé and Pierre Jeannette, as well as a listening room equipped with OJAS speakers, a traditional tea room and even sleeping pods that mimic NIGO’s own personal vacation room, NOT A HOTEL TOKYO gives fans a chance to step into the creative architectural design mind of the prolific Japanese designer. Speaking with NIGO on the project, he tells Hypebeast, “I have made a few houses before on my own and I fix them, feel like it’s a failure and then build another one. But this time is the first time I’ve done it for work.” He shares, “My own house is like this but it’s quite comfortable. With the vintage furniture and the design, it’s a great place to be.”

Alongside his own personal touches, like the giant inflatable duck in the property’s private swimming pool, NIGO brought in KAWS as a part of the home’s artwork curation. A giant statue by KAWS is located on the roof of the seaside home, overlooking the Tokyo Bay. KAWS told Hypebeast that originally, NIGO came to him for the project as a traditional sculptural commission. Taking inspiration from the space, he worked closely with NIGO on choosing the right statue to fit with his vision for the house. As for how he chose the particular one to place on the roof of the NOT A HOTEL TOKYO home, KAWS said, “I was picturing something with a surface that would be enticing out in the water. You can see a glimmer from a distance and I feel like the whole house operates like that with the glass. I wanted something that feels really good when you see it through the reflections of the stunning environment.”

With JOOPTIER’s involvement with the once-in-a-lifetime sale, Pharrell shared his thoughts on what it means for the three to come together to share a project like this and discusses the magic one feels when you walk into somebody else’s idea. To Pharrell, every room has its own “tuning or frequency resonance where one note will make the room vibrate. For structures to have that ability is mind blowing.” As for JOOPITER’s involvement, Pharrell is clear to state that the partnerships will continue, “As exciting as it is being involved with this is, it’s a reminder that we won’t stop. We’ll continue to do what excites us.” On what it means for the culture, Pharrell said, “The world has changed and I think people are on the cusp of awakening. The intention is to build.” The trio being Pharrell, NIGO and KAWS, have defined a generation of visual literacy. Pharrell praises NIGO calling him the “nucleus and common denominator of all of this. He saw the commonality and made the choice to bring us together. [NIGO] saw it first and he made it happen.”

The official Out Of This World auction offers the winning bidder an opportunity that will never be available to the public agaain. The auction will give the winner a chance to step inside the NOT A HOTEL universe re-imagined by NIGO for a one night stay at NOT A HOTEL TOKYO, before its official opening to the owners — scheduled for the end of 2026, a two night stay at any other currently opened NOT A HOTEL property and access to the NOT A HOTEL NIGO Tokyo lounge, scheduled to open in 2025, available until the Tokyo property opening.

The auction opens for bidding from September 11 to 19 online at JOOPITER.