Sukiya style
Sukiya style, Japanese architectural style developed in the Azuchi-Momoyama (1574β1600) and Tokugawa (1603β1867) periods, originally used for teahouses and later also for private residences and restaurants. Based on an aesthetic of naturalness and rustic simplicity, buildings in this style are intended to harmonize with their surroundings. Timber construction is employed, with wood left in a natural state, sometimes with the bark still attached. Walls are typically made of clay. Great attention is paid to detail and proportions, and the effect is one of refined simplicity. The architect Yoshida Isoya (1894β1974) pioneered a modern sukiya style using contemporary materials.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Sukiya style
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
07 November 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026