#japanesearchitecture

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

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

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

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

From the get-go, our simplicity-loving clients, a couple with their three dogs, requested a compact house with a sunroom where everyone could come together. However, the land presented a certain challenge - it is located in a chaotic urban zone with limited natural light. As a result, we started looking into different ways to handle natural light as well as to create an open space in this particular context. In addition, during this process, we realized that it would be important to design a dwelling place with a sense of psychological distance from its surroundings.  ©Ikuya Sasaki ©Ikuya Sasaki First of all, we created an open space, hereinafter referred to as the Solarium, with an atrium in the centre of the buil... More

Located at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountain range, our design office is a harmonious blend of traditional Japanese architecture and modern design, inspired by the serene view of Mt. Fuji and the cherry blossoms. Envisioned as a space where one can sit on tatami mats and work while enjoying the breath-taking natural scenery, this building is designed with thoughtfully placed desks and bookshelves. Large windows and skylights flood the interior with natural light, minimizing the need for artificial lighting and creating a contemporary yet serene atmosphere. Caption Caption The structure showcases elements central to Sobokuya’s design vision, such as mud wall finishes and meticulously crafted furniture. A standout feature... More

The architectural and design company ParaleloZero had the task of designing an office for a company that created an online platform for senior residence, home support and social centres called Arowana. The objective of the project was to create a personalised workspace that focused on the comfort and well-being of the employees and staff. To achieve this, the company utilised the an cient Chinese practice of Feng-Shui. The aim was to create an environment of serenity and tranquillity in the harmonisation of the space through Feng-Shui practices. Caption Caption Caption The office was designed in accordance with 5 elements of Feng-Shui, which are; Water, Fire, Earth, Wood and Metal. The elements were used to organise the spac... More

On the northern tip of Shikoku Island surrounded by the Seto Inland Sea is Mt. Yashima, a peninsula with historical significance for Japan. This scenic locale hosts Shikoku Mura, a leading open-air architectural museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing traditional houses from the Shikoku region. Our challenge was to redesign its entrance, transforming it into a new focal point complete with information spaces, ticketing, restrooms, and a shop—all while symbolizing renewal. Caption Caption The site was a parking lot elevated above the main access road, loosely connecting a shrine to the east, the museum's udon restaurant within a traditional house (Waraya) to the south, and an old Western-style house (Ijinkan) to the we... More

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

Harmony in Modern Minimalism Discover a private residence of modern minimalist architecture, nestled in a unique corner of town where nature reigns. The structure unfolds with meticulous attention to detail, featuring two volumes of varying heights adorned with an impressive 11-meter window. Natural stone tiles dance in harmony with charred larch cladding, playing with shades that range from deep black to warm brown. The same warm brown shade is chosen for the terrace and the vertical openwork. Different facade finishing materials form a visual symphony that accentuates the delicate balance between smooth and rough surfaces, matte and glossy materials. The harmony of different materials and forms creates the impression of completeness.... More

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