A natural satoyama landscape surrounds Mount Kurakake in the Takigahara area of Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

In one of its small communities stands Takigahara Farm, a test case created under a “Life with Farm” concept in the R-project urban renewal project of Teruo Kurosaki.

An old folk house on the farm has been attracting international attention since being featured in a global Airbnb campaign in FY2019. It was renovated by the Hokuriku Old House Revitalisation Organisation as a base for spreading new agricultural culture.

The century-old folk house was reborn as the TAKIGAHARA CRAFT AND STAY hostel, a fusion of old traditions and modern design. Filled with modern furniture by leading contemporary designers and architects, as well as the works of contemporary artists, it’s a virtual paradise for design enthusiasts. A workshop on the premises where local craftsmen used to grind wood has also launched a new brand of lacquerware, “9”.

In addition, a storehouse attached to the hostel was remodeled as a symbol of Takigahara’s cultural revival. It features a counter bar on the first floor serving carefully selected natural wines from all over the world, and an audio room on the second floor where you can listen to records while relaxing.

The walls connecting the first and second floors are covered with Ultrasuede® that was carefully selected as a “cultural and sustainable material.” Gently complementing the quality time and sound, its soft suede texture leads to the top of the stairs where a room is beautifully illuminated by the only unpainted Serge Mouille lamp in the world. This is a rare example of a sustainable cultural space.

Takigahara stone quarrying, Kutani porcelain creation, charcoal grilling and papermaking. The traditional handicrafts and lifestyles of the Hokuriku region are still practiced in this area.

Rather than simply having its cultural heritage restored, Takigahara will continue to make history as a base for future cultural revitalization.