About Us
A studio built on patience and craft
Founded in Kyoto in 2019, Mizu Studio is a multidisciplinary design practice specializing in architecture, interiors, and crafted objects. Our work is guided by wabi-sabi — the Japanese aesthetic that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness.
We believe the spaces we inhabit shape who we become. Our approach is slow, deliberate, and deeply collaborative. We listen before we design, and we refine until the solution feels as natural as a stone in a stream.
Our Philosophy
Rooted in wabi-sabi
Ma
The space between is not empty — it breathes. We design with generous whitespace that allows content to exist with intention.
Kanso
Simplicity eliminates the non-essential. Every element earns its place through clarity of purpose.
Shibui
Subtle beauty that reveals itself over time. Our designs favor restraint over excess, depth over flash.
Fukinsei
Asymmetry creates visual interest. We compose deliberately off-center, embracing natural imperfection.
Our Process
From conversation to creation
Listen
We begin every project with deep listening — understanding your needs, your site, your material preferences, and the feeling you want to create. This phase often includes visiting the site, studying the light, and understanding the broader context.
Explore
Through sketches, material studies, and iterative design, we explore multiple directions. We work in dialogue with you, presenting options and refining until the concept feels inevitable — as though it could not have been any other way.
Refine
Once the direction is set, we move into detailed design development. Every material, joint, and detail is considered. We produce comprehensive documentation and specifications that honor the design intent.
Realize
We work closely with builders, craftspeople, and makers to ensure the design is realized with care. Our involvement continues through construction, resolving details and making adjustments as the building or object comes to life.
Our Values
What guides us
Material Honesty
Every material is chosen for its authentic qualities — not for what it pretends to be. We celebrate grain, texture, and the marks of making.
Temporal Beauty
Great design ages well. We select materials and finishes that develop character over time, growing more beautiful with use and weathering.
Craftsmanship
We work with artisans and craftspeople who share our dedication to excellence. The human hand brings warmth and soul that cannot be replicated.
Restraint
We believe in doing less, but better. Every element in our designs earns its place through necessity and beauty, never through decoration or excess.
Our Team
The people behind the work
A small, international team united by a shared belief in the power of thoughtful design. We bring together diverse perspectives rooted in Japanese, Nordic, and contemporary design traditions.
Yuki Tanaka
Founder & Creative Director
Trained in Kyoto and Copenhagen, Yuki founded Mizu Studio in 2019 to bridge Japanese aesthetic philosophy with contemporary design practice. Her work has been featured in Dezeen, Frame, and Architectural Digest Japan.
Lars Henriksen
Design Director
A Danish architect with fifteen years of experience in sustainable design. Lars brings a Nordic sensibility for light and materiality that complements the studio's wabi-sabi approach. Previously at BIG and Norm Architects.
Aiko Nakamura
Interior Designer
Specializing in residential and hospitality interiors, Aiko creates spaces that feel both timeless and deeply personal. Her background in textile design informs her sensitivity to material textures and tactile experience.
Thomas Keller
Project Architect
Thomas leads the studio's architectural projects with a focus on residential and cultural buildings. His fascination with Japanese joinery and traditional building methods informs a practice that celebrates craftsmanship in every detail.