In a world dominated by productivity, consumerism, and click-bait, philosophies that challenge this paradigm are gaining traction. Among them, wabi-sabi stands out, an ancient Japanese aesthetic that celebrates the imperfection, transience and authenticity.
This concept is the union of wabi (discreet and austere beauty) and sabi (which refers to the passage of time and subsequent deterioration). The whole piece alludes to a way of looking at life: seeing the beauty in imperfection or savouring the happiness of simple moments. As Richard Powell points out in the book Wabi Sabi Simple, with which he made this philosophy popular in the West: “nothing lasts, nothing is complete and nothing is perfect”.
In this sense, wabi-sabi aesthetics manifests itself in the beauty of imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete things. This includes asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, austerity, modesty, intimacy and nature. Today, from Japan to Mexico, via Taiwan and Ukraine, diverse architectural and artistic proposals embody this philosophy with great sensitivity.
Cubo Design Architect: architecture that dialogues with shadows
Founded in 2004 by self-taught carpenter and architect Hitoshi Saruta, this studio is deeply inspired by Zen aesthetics and the timeless values of wabi-sabi. Create spaces where architecture dialogues with light, shadows, and the passage of time. Saruta has been designing homes, villas and shopping centres for over two decades. He works with materials extracted from nature, such as wood, stone, and earth, and enhances the textures of the materials.
An example of this work is the C4L House in Tokyo, developed with local artisans, which celebrates the warmth of handmade things. In it, materials such as wood, paper or lacquer are integrated into a contemplative atmosphere that evokes the spirit of the work In Praise of Shadows by the Japanese author Junichiro Tanizaki. According to this essay, there are materials and furniture whose beauty and comfort can only be fully appreciated in the dim light of a traditional house.
Thus, these textured plaster walls, with polished and natural stone walkways, crisscrossing rocks and plants, and hand-carved wooden screens create a space that celebrates the artisanal and the rustic as an essential part of beauty.
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Takahiro Kondo: ceramics inspired by nature
From Kyoto, the ceramist Takahir o Kondo (Japan, 1958) has developed a distinctive technique based on a “silver mist” glaze, the result of his experimentation with metals. His work, strongly influenced by nature and water, took a significant turn after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.
The Reduction figure shows a meditative figure repaired using the traditional Japanese method known as kintsugi. Kintsugi, which is often used on broken vessels, consists of reassembling the pieces with a plant-based resin and then covering it with gold or silver. Far from hiding the breakage and attempting to return the piece to what it was, this procedure highlights the change, symbolizing the value of what has been experienced.
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Soar Design Studio: dialogue between the human and the natural
This Taiwanese studio, led by Ray Chang, challenges conventional ideas about space to create architecture that reflects a dialogue between humans and nature.
An example of his inspiration in nature is the Terra Bean chocolate shop. To Bar, in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei. Here the interior design is inspired by the cocoa ecosystem. Rocks, plants, and furniture blend into an organic environment, where earthy colours and textures evoke a tropical forest. Furthermore, the connection between interior and exterior is reinforced by large windows and seating areas open to the street, making the space a place of pause and contemplation.
In 2019, the studio won a Golden Pin Design Award for a residential project that divided a single high-ceilinged space into several levels. Called Life in Tree House, the project was a great example of small-space residential architecture.
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Makhno Studio: living clay
This Ukrainian studio, led by Serhii Makhno has developed more than 600 projects in 25 countries. His work combines contemporary art, artisanal techniques, and a deep respect for natural materials.
Recently introduced its own material, Breathable Walls (breathable walls), made entirely by hand with unfired clay and more than 50 natural additives such as straw, wood chips and herbs. Inspired by traditional Ukrainian construction, this material regulates humidity, promotes passive ventilation, and reduces environmental impact.
The material also promotes mental and emotional well-being and follows toxic-free and waste-free production principles. Its application in the Shkrub House reflects this commitment to healthy architecture. In 2024, the material was awarded a gold prize at the Dezeen Awards. Awards in the Surface Design of the Year category.
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Orchid Pavilion: a sanctuary of contemplation
Designed by the Center for Architectural Collaboration (CCA) for Casa Wabi In Oaxaca, Mexico, the Orchid Pavilion is a permanent structure that fuses ancestral knowledge with wabi-sabi principles. Built from wood, mud, and palm, the pavilion promotes orchid conservation and celebrates local biodiversity.
The structure reproduces the conditions necessary for the cultivation of these flowers through a series of clay humidifiers that collect and recycle water naturally. The system creates a humid and shaded environment reminiscent of the interior of a tropical forest. In addition to being a botanical refuge, the pavilion serves as a place of contemplation and relaxation for people, who can drink the same water as the orchids.
Located between the sea and the mountains, on the outskirts of Puerto Escondido, in the Mexican Pacific, this construction is also an expression of the Japanese concept ikigai, the reason for being, which projects purpose in its architectural design by combining the biocultural resource that inhabits it with the traditional knowledge of a community.
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In these five works, the wabi-sabi philosophy translates into matter, form and emotion. It is a sensitive response to the times we live in, where spaces do not aspire to perfection, but rather invite us to reconcile ourselves with slowness and fragility.
