GHM moved into new territory this month after signing on to develop The Chedi Tomakomai, a 60-room luxury hotel and expansive wellness complex set within 1,057 hectares of lush forest on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. Following the agreement between GHM Holdings and Nordenwald Company Ltd., construction on the project will begin in November 2012 with a projected opening date in 2015.
Designed by iconic Japanese architect and 1995 Pritzker Prize winner Tadao Ando, The Chedi Tomakomai will stand as an environment-friendly design on 47 hectares of land, preserving 96% of the surrounding forest.
"The prospect of working with Tadao Ando on this, our first property in Japan, is as compelling as the natural splendor of the site itself," said GHM President Hans R. Jenni. "With Tadao Ando, we're after the utmost in elegance from the utmost in simplicity."
Known as one of Japan's major breadbaskets and home to six undisturbed national parks, Hokkaido's natural assets will be reflected in The Chedi's open-air hot springs, 30-table gourmet restaurant, and health facilities.
Each 60-70 square-metre room in the hotel will have built-in fireplaces and cliff-facing views. A six-room spa, health club, indoor and outdoor pools, library, lounge and wine cellar are all in the blueprints. GHM will also develop 40 private villas for long-term lease.
"Urban dwellers will be enchanted by the serenity and bountiful natural beauty of this property," said Clement Koh, GHM's vice president of sales and marketing. "Our vision is a comfortable and exclusive retreat where the recharging takes place in a truly stunning wilderness."