Kengo Kuma & Associates and Commune Design Transform a Landmarked Building for the Ace Hotel Kyoto March 1, 2021 When the Ace Hotel Group was looking for a location for the brand’s foray into Asia, the historic Japanese city of Kyoto was firmly on its radar. “Kyoto has been a muse for everyone from musician David Bowie to film director Akira Kurosawa, as well as an inspiration to Ace from our very beginnings,” Brad Wilson, the international chainlet’s president, notes. “Its centuries of celebrated artists and artisans have had a major impact on the way we look at craft and functional design.”