Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese architectural company SOBOKUYA, which specializes in traditional carpentry and sustainable design, said it will establish its first Middle East base in the Dubai Design District in November.

SOBOKUYA is currently exhibiting at Dubai Design Week 2025 (November 4 to 9) in collaboration with Nikken Sekkei Dubai FZ-LLC. 

From its new base in Dubai, SOBOKUYA plans to expand into Europe, South Asia, and Africa, developing architectural and interior projects that combine Japanese minimalism, wabi-sabi aesthetics and modern functionality. 

The company’s unique interpretation of “Japandi” style evolves these traditions further, emphasizing soboku (simplicity), keinenno aji (the beauty of aging) and teshigoto no nukumori (the warmth of handcraft). 

By collaborating with like-minded partners across different regions, SOBOKUYA seeks to convey the essence of natural living and cultural harmony through architecture, and create new landscapes that connect people, places, and purpose.

The establishment of SOBOKUYA Dubai marks the company’s next step following its bases in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Through its presence in Dubai, the company aims to share with the world the beauty of wood joinery, natural materials and craftsmanship rooted in ecology.

At Dubai Design Week, SOBOKUYA and Nikken Sekkei Dubai are presenting an installation titled “Chatai (Tea Platform),” a reinterpretation of a Japanese tea ceremony room (chashitsu)and street stall as a modern space for contemplation. Blending the tranquility of chashitsu with the liveliness of everyday gatherings, “Chatai” embodies a new form of cultural hospitality where people can meet, talk and reflect together.

Dubai Design Week is the largest creative festival in the Middle East, bringing together designers and architects from around the world to explore how design connects communities. It is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.