Description
The Minoru project is a three–hotel-brand development composed of two primary hotel towers and a third brand integrated into the podium level. A central feature of the design is the elevated courtyard that connects the towers and supports a café and restaurant program. Richmond’s urban fabric lacks strong public landscape spaces, and this project addresses that gap by creating a shared upper-level courtyard that functions as a civic terrace—encouraging circulation, social activity, and a more vibrant urban environment. The terraced landscape, public pathways, and open-air structures form a connected outdoor network that brings greenery and community life into a dense commercial district.
Integrated Multi-Brand Hotel Program
The development brings together two hotel towers and a third brand within the podium, organizing three hospitality identities into one coordinated site. This arrangement increases flexibility in operations, broadens market reach, and efficiently consolidates amenities and services across the project.
Elevated Courtyard as a New Urban Landscape
At the center of the project, an upper-level courtyard forms a shared outdoor environment that Richmond’s urban core typically lacks. Positioned above the street and connected to both towers, this landscaped terrace provides open space for relaxation, walking, and social interaction, functioning as a new piece of communal urban landscape within a dense commercial setting.
Vertical Precision, Horizontal Connection
The façade blends curved glazing, stepped profiles, and layered balconies to soften the tower’s massing and create a fluid, sculpted expression. Transparent edges open the building to light and views, while warm material accents and controlled shading elements anchor the form and provide comfort at the pedestrian level.
