Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026

Wabi Sabi

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about Wabi Sabi

Product • By Nakamoto ForestryHinoki Unoiled

Hinoki Unoiled

Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is an aromatic and rot-resistant lumber species native to central and southern Japan. The wood's straight grain, light color, and luxe planed sheen make it an ideal aesthetic material for wall, floor, and ceiling surfaces. Our premium clear grade (without knots) hinoki moulder blanks are designed to be custom milled by your local moulder.  Caption   Finish Details - Unoiled Hinoki’s durability and preservability are among the highest levels in the world. If coated with a finish, the wood will lose its fragrance. Customers can add their own preferred coating to wood after milling using standard tradecraft. Caption For additional information on this finish option please visit... More

Product • By Nakamoto ForestryPika-Pika® Acrylic Black

Pika-Pika® Acrylic Black

Yakisugi “shou sugi ban” siding and paneling. Wire-brushed surface with most soot removed, revealing a defined grain texture. Three coats of a warranted acrylic coating is applied prior to shipment. Suitable for exterior and interior applications. Delivered ready to install.    Finish Detail - Acrylic Black Acrylic latex coatings offer the best performance on the market due to their high adhesion, high build, and solid color. This finish is designed to withstand challenging exterior environments and has been tested in the field for over 60 years. It carries a limited manufacturer warranty of 25 years. Delivered ready to install.   For additional information on this finish option please visit us at our website... More

Product • By Nakamoto ForestryPika-Pika® Unoiled

Pika-Pika® Unoiled

Yakisugi “shou sugi ban” siding and paneling. Wire-brushed and textured surface. Most of the soot is removed, revealing a striped pattern. Suitable for exterior and interior applications. We recommend applying a finish before installation to prevent sooty fingerprints.  Caption   Finish Detail - Unoiled Yakisugi heat treatment makes a finish coating unnecessary. Unoiled siding can always be oiled in the future to add color or protection. Caption Our Pika-Pika® yakisugi “shou sugi ban” products are first burned deeply black. Two rounds of wire brushing remove all loose earlywood soot from the softer spring growth rings, leaving the late wood as contrasting burnt ridges. It is a topographic,... More

Project • By Haven Space DesignApartments

YEN

The essence of home lies not in defined forms, but in the quiet harmony woven through materials and atmosphere.By embracing raw textures, we soften the edges of daily life—creating a space where the mind and body can truly find rest beyond the pressures of the everyday. Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio More

NewsNews • 2 Jan 2025

Orchid Pavilion for Casa Wabi merges Oaxacan craft with Japanese philosophy

The Orchid Pavilion for Fundación Casa Wabi merges Oaxacan craft with Japanese philosophy. This permanent wooden structure was designed by Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónica (CCA), a studio established by architect Bernardo Quinzaños. The pavilion is dedicated to the conservation of orchids in Oaxaca, Mexico, and celebrates “the strong interplay between the biological and cultural diversity of the landscape,” says CCA. Jaime Navarro Rafael Gamo Drawing by CCA Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónica Fundación Casa Wabi is a non-profit organization that fosters a dialogue between contemporary art and local communities; the foundation is perhaps most famo... More

Project • By IDEOLOGISTHotels

Ikiru Hotel: Harmonious Renovation Project

Ikiru Hotel is a visionary renovation project by IDEOLOGIST, inspired by Japanese aesthetics and the philosophy of aikido — "the path to harmony." Located on the scenic Black Sea coast, the hotel sits amidst a stunning natural landscape of sea, mountains, and forest, and was designed to complement its surroundings rather than dominate them. Sophie Stepanova Sophie Stepanova The architecture is minimalist yet powerful, drawing inspiration from the simple lines and geometry of traditional men's kimono patterns. A signature element is the use of rectangular bands that wrap around the building like draped fabric, creating a dynamic play of light and shadow while enhancing privacy for guests. Additionally, the cascading, wave-li... More

Project • By Haven Space DesignApartments

WA

The homeowners, a couple, are keenly aware of the impact that high-pressure work has on their physical and mental well-being. They are drawn to the life philosophy conveyed by "wabi-sabi" and its tranquil, subtle aesthetic forms. Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Drawing inspiration from nature, we derive colors and textures to serve as a pervasive design language throughout. This design aims to allow the residents, despite their busy lives, to experience the lingering tranquility of existence. Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio Hua happeni Studio By leaving ample space, we enable the pass... More

Project • By Dionne ArquitectosApartments

Departamento Sadro

This is a remodeling project of a recently delivered apartment in one of the newest and most innovative developments in the city of Puebla. With a program defined by the original architectural plan, the focus of the project was to capture the lifestyle of the users in these new spaces, reforming for this reason, the service area, generating a completely new "pantry" space and a new service bar towards the kitchen and social area.  Alejandro Mirsha The rest of the spaces were redefined with fixed elements and furniture, which, obeying the needs of the users, generated a large main room, a dining room and a new decompression space between the access and the social area, as a living room.  Alejandro Mirsha The entire... More

Project • By FIVE OH FIVEPrivate Houses

House Studio Refurbishement

The refurbishment of this building from the 30’s in the picturesque Toscal neighbourhood in the city centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is marked by our desire to respect the original architecture as much as possible, bring back elements of its memory and update it with subtle interventions that will transfer it to our time, such as the new pistachio-painted aluminium window frames. Caption The pre-existences are the generous height of doors, windows and ceilings; the original encaustic tiles, showing a different pattern in each room and a sensible distribution, good ventilation, patios and light throughout the day. Caption The general arrangement of the house is maintained as the original by the architect Pintor y Ocete &nd... More

Project • By NEMM studioApartments

v131 apartment.

Apartment v131 is located on the top floor of a residential building in Ivan Vazov district at the entrance of South Park in Sofia, Bulgaria. In its original layout, the apartment had 42 sq.m. of living space and 14.4 sq.m. of terraces. Space distribution was quite outdated, so we had to make radical decisions and completely overhaul everything. Sandro Arabyan To cater to the lifestyle of the new residents, we reconfigured the function of every room. Given the limited space at our disposal, we seized the opportunity to fully integrate one terrace and partially integrate the other.  With the newly redesigned layout, we were able to expand the living space to almost 51 sq. meters, while still reserving a lovely 5 sq.m. terrace wi... More

Project • By STERLING PRESSERHotels

WABI-SABI HOTEL

Wabi-Sabi Hotel The Lisbon dream house offers a timeless and highly original experience in an authentic, charming, stimulating and unique environment. Caption Guests are welcomed as if they were in the home of a close friend, instilling a sense of peace and belonging. It is a place where they take the time to do simple things but in a beautiful and different way. Caption Discreet and dedicated staff preempt the needs and wants of the guests, providing them with what they want before they even know it themselves. The project design concept includes the following ideas: - Wabi-Sabi philosophy through the design - Material elements - Transformation of these elements Caption A Japanese aesthetic term for a situation. Wab... More

Project • By DQV.ArchitectsApartments

Undefined Living Space

Located in the new rising contemporary urban area, well-planned and well-duplicated, the core of the architect's approach is actually to move away from the feeling of living in the identical ‘hanging boxes' - by the asymmetrical curve wall finished in the non-flat texture style, giving it a unique and natural character. Minq Bui The project was designed with the idea of praising the simple living style of the owners, the architect simplifies all of the unnecessary details and furniture styles. This is reflected from the living space on the ground floor to 02 bedrooms upstairs. The off-white color tone reminds users of relaxation. And of course, the free curves soften all of the conventional angles. Minq Bui The original la... More

Project • By MR StudioApartments

Estoril Bay Apartment

Located along Estoril Bay, facing the Atlantic Ocean, the beachfront apartment was designed as a place for entertaining, in which all aspects of the apartment are intended to act as an extension of the surrounding environment. Michelle Reis Studio Through the removal of the original linear elements that divided the plan, the space was reunified, and into this, a curved elemental form was placed. Michelle Reis Studio   The design response is simple, refined and calming, allowing the clients to rest and recharge. Michelle Reis Studio More

Project • By MR StudioPrivate Houses

Triplex House

Located in the Santo Amaro Bay, between the beautiful Oeiras Garden and the Santo Amaro beach, this sibling house was redesigned to carefully balance the existing house and to carefully meet the long-term needs of a young professional couple. The main challenge was to create a completely revitalised house that translates the contemporaneity and the sense of comfort, calm, and purity, but still maintained the house's heritage. Caption Caption Caption Caption Caption More

Product • By Zwarthout l Shou Sugi BanNaoshima

Naoshima

Naoshima is our version of Shou Sugi Ban and the primary product we are proud of at Zwarthout. Naoshima has an irregular but characteristic pattern, which gleams beautifully in the sun. The brittle, black carbon layer ages over the years acquiring a beautiful patina (weathering), which fits the Japanese philosophy of life of Wabi Sabi. The philosophy of Wabi Sabi embraces the serene beauty of transience and imperfection. Noashima is particularly suitable for exterior applications. The carbon stains somewhat, but it does not wash out when it rains. The brittle coal layer requires a specific detailing of the building to reduce the influence of wind and weather. We recommend that this type not be used above a height of 6 metres above ground l... More