#japan

Project • By studioSHUWARI • Housing

The House That Creates a View

This house is built on a site along a bank in Toyama City overlooking the Tateyama mountain range. It was planned with the utmost care to allow people to enjoy the scenery in their daily lives. The living/dining/kitchen area and bathroom are located on the second floor to take in the views of the river, Toyama City, and the Tateyama mountain range that were previously blocked by the bank. The large windows offer a panoramic view, allowing you to spend time feeling the changes of the seasons. The entrance and private rooms are all on the first floor, allowing each family member to cherish their own time. The scenery becomes memorable depending on the people who gather there and how they spend their time. The scenery that catches your eye in... More

KAI NAKAMURA

Project • By Arte-1 Architects • Private Houses

VILLA BIG SKY

This mountain villa was designed and planned based on a villa our firm originally designed in 1984 in the Yatsugatake Highlands (Japan) for a different site.The clients, a married couple, were looking for a place that would allow a dual-base lifestyle while cherishing time with their beloved dog. Initially, the plan was to renovate the Yatsugatake lodge that had been put up for sale; however, considering ease of access to central Tokyo, they ultimately chose Suwa (Japan) as the new location. ARTE-1 KAI NAKAMURA ARTE-1 KAI NAKAMURA KAI NAKAMURA The defining characteristics of this building are its horizontally spreading spaces and its hipped roof with deep eaves, whose complex form evokes the surrounding mountain ra... More

Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya

Project • By Sobokuya Inc. • Offices

The Shrine Office

Nature takes the lead, and architecture follows in harmony. A dialogue between light and material— a timeless structure designed to live with this land for generations to come. Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya There is no excess ornamentation in this building. The shared intention of both architect and carpenter was simple— to bring out the inherent beauty of the materials themselves. Light and wind flow freely through large windows that open in every direction, casting gentle shadows across the tatami floor. Spring light, summer greenery, autumn breeze, and winter silence— each season becomes part of... More

Project • By KENZO ARCHITECTS & ASSOCIATES Co., Ltd. • Hotels

Emerald Bliss Estate

Emerald Bliss Estate is two buildings with different concepts. The themes of the retreats are “Relaxation Retreat” and “Focus Retreat,” which have a different look and role.A retreat is a way to detoxification from daily life and heal the mind and body.At the “Relax Retreat Sand Wing,” you can spend a relaxing and meaningful time with a beautiful view of the ocean.Focus Retreat “Nagi Wing” is a place where you can spend your time focusing on what you love to do. Caption Caption Caption “Sand Wing”.Based on the theme of a relaxing retreat, this space is designed in nude tones to make you feel comfortable and at home.The open-plan living room, with its iconic sofa, c... More

With the addition of the roof and wood chips, a sense of cohesion has been achieved inside and outside.

Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya

The natural stone radiates a strong presence while harmonising with the building.

A Japanese-style space that generously utilises half-sized Ryukyu tatami mats (square, borderless tatami mats that give a more modern and minimalistic look compared to traditional rectangular tatami).

With the combination of sliding doors and fittings, the space can quickly transform into an open area.

The exposed beams, which would typically be hidden in the ceiling, showcase the craftsmanship of hand-carved carpentry.

Project • By Sobokuya Inc. • Private Houses

Le Sauna

Le Sauna is a serene Japanese-style retreat designed to soothe both mind and body, blending timeless architectural elements with thoughtful craftsmanship. Its dignified earthen walls and the warm elegance of a handcrafted wooden roof create a harmonious connection with nature. Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya Key features of Le Sauna include a beautifully curved entrance and a tokonoma (alcove) that incorporates bamboo latticework into pine posts, preserving their natural bark for added rustic charm. The bathing area features a Kiso cypress bath, renowned for its durability and fragrance, placed by a large window with Kyoto-style sliding screens for privacy. Adjacent to... More

The outside features a large deck that resembles a grand stage, with distinctive protruding beams.

Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya

With a focus on the surrounding landscape, large wooden doors and windows were carefully designed to offer breathtaking views of the nearby mountains.

A double-height entrance finished with earthen walls. The earthen floor, traditionally crafted using Sanwa-do techniques, exudes a mysterious yet cosy atmosphere. The rounded door frame adds a cave-like ambience to the space.

timber greet you. The sturdy yet compact taiko-bari beams add a touch of charm alongside their strength.

A living room where you can feel the changing seasons. With its ability to display different expressions throughout the day and across spring, summer, autumn, and winter, it’s a space that never grows old.

Project • By Sobokuya Inc. • Private Houses

Totonoeru ie: A House in Harmony

Totonoeru ie embodies simplicity and expansive openings, seamlessly integrated into its landscape. The grand structure features large wooden doors and windows that frame breathtaking views of nearby mountains, transforming the living room and private rooms into natural art galleries. Interior walls, finished with a mix of black charcoal and white plaster, reflect outdoor scenery, enhancing the connection to nature. Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya Complemented by meticulously crafted kitchen and sanitary furniture, the spacious living area balances grandeur with delicate craftsmanship. Sobokuya’s signature taiko beams serve as structural elements and striking staircases, traversing the centre of the room to create... More

The wooden table is made from a single piece of wood, cut from a large tree.

Sobokuya Inc. Courtesy of Sobokuya_by Sobokuya

The facade of SOCHA is bright and adorned with light, natural, wood, while the second floor is adorned with “yakisugi” - burned Japanese cedar boards, a traditional Japanese construction method - to give a contrasting look between the two floors.

Opening up into the earthen-coloured interiors of SOCHA, one is greeted with the traditional mud walls that offers coolness in the hot Japanese summer, an impressive wooden table, and tatami-inspired stools.

The interiors are lit by a single slit-window which offers privacy from the outside, yet lets in playful sunlight.

Project • By Sobokuya Inc. • Offices

SOCHA

SOCHA is a uniquely designed Japanese café themed around traditional Japanese tea and matcha. The concept phase began in 2022, solidified in 2023, and culminated with the café’s official opening in January 2024. The SOCHA project not only serves as a café but also as a showcase of Sobokuya’s design philosophy, offering an immersive experience in both culinary and architectural aspects of Japanese culture. Caption The building housing SOCHA is a renovation project, transforming a space that once served as a newspaper delivery office and a home into a vibrant café on the ground floor and Sobokuya’s Tokyo design office on the second floor. The renovation involved a complete overhaul of both t... More

In the kitchen, solid chestnut wood was used to match the natural wooden atmosphere.

The design evokes the iconic stage of Kiyomizu-Dera Temple in Kyoto. The raised floor prevents moisture buildup and creates pathways for air circulation.

The hand-carved carpentry techniques fitted the pillars to the natural shapes of the stones.

The living room is spacious and open, with a clear path from the terrace to the kitchen.

Project • By Sobokuya Inc. • Private Houses

Suashi no Ie

Suashi no Ie – A House in Harmony with Nature In 2021, Sobokuya embarked on a project to create Suashi no Ie, an eco-regenerative home that embodies the owner’s sustainable lifestyle. Nestled at the foot of Mount Yatsugatake, the house is a blend of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and modern regenerative living. Caption The name “Suashi no Ie” (Barefoot House) reflects the owner’s lifestyle, which greatly revolves around walking barefoot. This passion for connecting with the earth influenced the choice of materials - we aimed to create a natural, comfortable feel underfoot throughout the house. Caption Inspired by the architectural techniques used in the iconic Kiyomizu-Dera Temple in Kyoto, Sua... More

Leonarto Finotti

Project • By Gustavo Penna Architects Associates - GPAA • Memorials

MEMORIAL OF JAPANESE IMMIGRATION

MUSEUM MONUMENT TO FRIENDSHIP AND ITS METAPHORSThe open-air museum celebrates the friendship between Japan and the state of Minas Gerais and what this relationship was able to build out of concrete and immaterial. The project is a bridge over a lake. The bridge metaphorically connects territories, times, ideas and ideals. The lake is like the sea between nations, and also that of challenges, achievements, times lived. The actions and works become visible through remarkable dates that emerge from the water, and the submerged spaces represent the regions of the unconscious of feeling and memory. The route starts from symbolic Japan planted with cherry trees to Minas dos Ipês-Brancos. Leonarto Finotti Celebrating Japan and Minas, c... More

Project • By NoMaDoS • Offices

YOKOSAWA CAMPUS／RELATIONS OF STEPS

[Background] YOKOSAWA CAMPUS is a co-working space located in the Hizume shopping street in Shiwa-cho, Shiwagun, Iwate Prefecture. One part of the space has been renovated into a café. Caption Caption Caption The building was self-renovated by the owner and friends over several years after being relocated to this location. In recent years, it has been used by local residents as a co-working space. However, since it was originally a residence, seeing the lively interior from the outside was difficult. Caption Caption The owner attempted to create a new reason for people to visit by offering coffee and trying to make a more open gathering place for more people. Inspired by the history of Hizume, which used t... More

Hajime Yoshida

Project • By HAJIME YOSHIDA ARCHITECTURE • Parks/Gardens

Warakuen

This is a landscape design project in Johana, Toyama Prefecture. To create order to a large site, a folly will be set up in the center of the site. A black wall swung 45 degrees inserted in the folly makes a sequence and we go inside along this wall. Caption Caption Caption Caption To start a new story from the existing well on the site, I place stone benches and tables that blend in with the landscape. The composition of the diagonal elements in the square also overlaps with the arrangement in Japanese tea ceremony, where a ladle is placed diagonally on the furnace. Caption Caption Caption Yusuke Takano Caption Caption More

Yusuke Takano

Project • By HAJIME YOSHIDA ARCHITECTURE • Art Galleries

(an)-graph

This is a renovation project in Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan that transformed the old Japanese house into the photographer, Yusuke Takano’s studio. To create the space, we remained the existing wood structure and add Geometric Abstraction to infill. Yusuke Takano Yusuke Takano Yusuke Takano Yusuke Takano It all started by noting that there are elements of modernism like Mondrian’s painting in spaces where traditional Japanese architecture appear the vertical and horizontal structures. The space was greatly changed by painting an abstract painting to site-specific canvas. Yusuke Takano Yusuke Takano Yusuke Takano Yusuke Takano More

Forward Stroke Inc.

Project • By MASAKI SUZUKI ARCHITECTS • Private Houses

House M

A renovation project for a new resident. We renovated a 19-year-old private house due to the change of the resident. The new resident's family consists of a grandmother, father, mother, and 3 children (2 brothers and a small sister). The purpose of this project was creating a space where they can feel a sense of unity between two households even if the living floors are different. Forward Stroke Inc. Forward Stroke Inc. Forward Stroke Inc. In Japan, about two-family homes, there are many cases where the living space is completely separated, such as having two entrances. But in this project, a home originally designed for one household would be renovated into a two-family home. Therefore, it was necessary to study what was ne... More

TechniStaff (Kouji Okamoto)

Project • By Nikken Sekkei Ltd • Offices

Hibiya Fort Tower

From former MOAT to FORT, and a new town center This project site lies on the former outer moat of Edo Castle where the shogun lived. The bent section of the moat became the foundation of the current irregularly shaped city block, which was problematic in some respects, with its unusually configured intersection and lack of pedestrian space and greenery. Replacement of the district road and reorganization of the city block allowed for the creation of green plazas and comfortable walking spaces, and transformed the area into a high-rise complex of offices, SOHO, and shops. TechniStaff (Kouji Okamoto) The fact that the moat used to serve as the boundary between the daimyo (feudal lord)’s mansion and the residences of mercha... More

Project • By Francesca Lo Cascio • Restaurants

Teppanyaki Burger

Concept of a restaurant that matches together with the Japanese cooking style "teppa yaki", where a chef cooks in front of the guests, and the Hipster universe of American burger. The interior decoration is completely inspired by the hipster trend mood. Caption Caption SCOPE: Concept Development, Interior Design, 2D architectural drawings, 3D renders, Brand Identity, Packaging design DESIGNED WITH: LATELIER LC Caption Caption More

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