d+a | Issue 115 • Apr/May 2020

71 Kanazawa was so taken by his visit that he decided to assemble an all-American team in 1993 to create something similar in Japan. Helming this team were architects Richard Beard and Gerry Jue. CUES FROM THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR “Kanazawa-san wanted to develop assisted-living projects that felt like resorts, and we had the experience,” shares Beard. Twenty-seven years and a dozen projects later, the collaboration is still going strong, through Beard under his eponymous practice Richard Beard Architects and Jue under his interior design firm BAMO. One of their recently-completed projects is Sun City Kobe Tower, a 35-storey residential building that raises the bar on luxury senior living with its detail, amenities and vibrant community programme. Beard and his collaborators saw the project as a tapestry of architecture, interior and landscape – all three were developed in tandem for a cohesive result. “Assisted living is a unique type with unique challenges. It has demanding programming and requires a very collaborative process with a sophisticated design team. The key to success rests in the 3 2. The tower sits in one corner of the site, leaving ample room for a central courtyard with a flowing stream, a variety of perimeter gardens and communal pavilions. / 3. The interior design aims to create a “peaceful harbour”.