“It’s about contemporary and traditional Japanese architecture; the harmony of nature and architecture; and a sense of transparency in terms of spatial and temporal flow”, explains Ryue Nishizawa.

The creative starting point is a modern reinterpretation of a traditional ryokan inn. Underpinning its contemporary form are traditional Japanese architectural methodologies, including a centuries-old tatami mat measurement system, plus exacting craftsmanship.

Instead of a “one-box” structure, Nishizawa brought to life a string of pavilions with floating walkways and courtyards – which collectively form one transparent structure, dissolving boundaries between humans and nature.

The double-level pavilions are modern-day temples to wellness. Facades of black burnt cedar cladding contrast sharply with the purity of the light-flooded interiors, which are smoothly wrapped from floor to ceiling in the most sacred of Japan’s woods: hinoki cypress. Cut-out windows cleanly frame the abstraction of the passing seasons of the surrounding forest, while elevated terrace platforms in each pavilion hover above Japanese courtyard gardens.

Like the pause between musical notes or the unpainted white space on canvas, life at SSH No.3 is all about what lies in-between – or more precisely ma, the Japanese concept of negative space. Peaceful contemplation is impossible to resist – whether strolling along a walkway in the treetops, sinking into the restorative waters of the Bathhouse, or pausing for a meditative ritual in the Teahouse.