kodai and associates Zürich. Our projects
kodai and associate was founded in Kyoto, Japan, and operates from Zurich, Switzerland, bridging the cultural richness of its origins to Europe.
Our studio integrates garden, interior, and architectural design into a cohesive approach that embraces both tradition and modernity. We believe design has the power to shape meaningful experiences, blending client stories, thoughtful concepts, and environmental context into every project.
Every project reflects this commitment to balance. We carefully select materials that honour tradition while ensuring sustainability, creating spaces that are functional, timeless, and culturally resonant. Whether designing a family home, a cultural institution, or a serene garden, we collaborate closely with our clients to craft spaces that align with their values and aspirations.
We invite you to explore our services and work with us to create spaces that are both inspiring and enduring.
KOHTEI
Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens | Hiroshima
Photo: Nobutada Omote
As a director of Architecture in SANDWICH Inc. (Kohei Nawa, Yuichi Kodai, Yoshitaka Lee)
The Zen Temple Pavilion for meditation. The pavilion's roof establishes a profound relationship between the structure and nature, inviting you into the installation within the roof that takes you to the gardens in your mind. The exterior garden makes you aware of our physical reality. The balance of mind and physical experiences formulate Zen.
DAWN AT THE LAKESIDE
Zürich | Switzerland
Photo: Yuichi Kodai
A concrete house and garden renovation, creating a living environment that engages our senses every day. Eyes, ears, and skin become conduits, connecting the mind to the great scenery of Lake Zurich, mountains, sky, and the memories of the dweller. Whether you're bathing, cooking, sleeping, or working, the concrete house is reimagined as a protective container, ensuring comfort for both body and mind.
ALTITUDE 1800
Valais | Switzerland
At 1800 metres in the Swiss Alps of Valais, this mountain retreat reflects a dialogue between nature and architecture. Designed to invite the landscape into daily life, the interiors balance wood, stone, and clay - each element connecting to alpine views, grounding visitors in the essence of the place. The design blends alpine character with Japanese-inspired clarity, fostering a vivid connection to the surrounding landscape.
Photo: Yuichi Kodai
STUART LOCHHEAD SCULPTURE
Old Bond Street | London
A refined gallery interior designed by Kodai and Associates, featuring an expansive bookshelf filled with art literature, a marble reading table, and classical sculptures. The space bridges a library, workspace, and exhibition area, creating a seamless flow. Warm lighting and a portrait painting enhance the inviting atmosphere, embodying a blend of heritage and modern design aesthetics.
“A serene gallery space designed by Kodai and Associates, showcasing classical sculptures against a minimalist backdrop. Warm lighting highlights each artwork, with large arched windows reminiscent of an English orangerie connecting the interior to the outside. The design reflects a blend of Japanese and European influences, creating a timeless atmosphere for the sculptures on display.”
A refined gallery interior designed by Kodai and Associates, featuring an expansive bookshelf filled with art literature, a marble reading table, and classical sculptures. The space bridges a library, workspace, and exhibition area, creating a seamless flow. Warm lighting and a portrait painting enhance the inviting atmosphere, embodying a blend of heritage and modern design aesthetics.
A gallery uniting “knowledge,” “artwork,” and “exhibition” in masterpiece arts layered within a Grade II listed building. A transitional walkway guides visitors through the vast collection of the art library, the office, and the main gallery, where arched windows frame sculptures facing the street. Art and history converge in a space that invites both visitors and passersby into a quietly timeless atmosphere.
Photo: Yuichi Kodai
CLEARING
Art Flow - Kunst im Limattal | Zurich
„CLEARING“ – Eine Kunstinstallation von Michel Comte und Yuichi Kodai im Limmattal Wald bei Zürich Erleben Sie „CLEARING,“ eine einzigartige Kunstinstallation des bekannten Künstlers Michel Comte und Architekten Yuichi Kodai, die unsere Wahrnehmung der Natur neu definiert. Im Limmattal Wald in Zürich lädt dieses Projekt dazu ein, die Themen „Natur als Garten“ und „Garten als Natur“ zu erkunden. Durch gezieltes Freilegen von Waldstrukturen kommen verborgene Naturformen und Lebenszyklen zum Vorsch
„CLEARING“ – Eine Kunstinstallation von Michel Comte und Yuichi Kodai im Limmattal Wald bei Zürich Erleben Sie „CLEARING,“ eine einzigartige Kunstinstallation des bekannten Künstlers Michel Comte und Architekten Yuichi Kodai, die unsere Wahrnehmung der Natur neu definiert. Im Limmattal Wald in Zürich lädt dieses Projekt dazu ein, die Themen „Natur als Garten“ und „Garten als Natur“ zu erkunden. Durch gezieltes Freilegen von Waldstrukturen kommen verborgene Naturformen und Lebenszyklen zum Vorsch
Photo: Yuichi Kodai
Artwork by Michel Comte in collaboration with Yuichi Kodai
"CLEARING" is an artwork by Michel Comte in collaboration with Yuichi Kodai that explores the perception of nature within Zurich’s Limmattal forest. Through uncovering overlooked natural elements, it questions the idea of “Nature as Garden” or “Garden as Nature.” The act of clearing reveals hidden forms and prompts a mindful awareness, inviting viewers to reconsider their connection to the forest.
CHALET RESIDENCE
Crans-Montana | Switzerland
Photo: Yuichi Kodai
A Swiss chalet transformation weaves together the joys of family and their art wrapped in the warmth of softwood. The design embraces the space with the unique play of natural light, sculpting distinctive atmospheres with the artistry of expert joinery and Japanese master crafting.
KYO-TANGO HOTEL
Kyoto | Japan
Long-stay hotel in the culturally rich Kyoto Tango peninsula, surrounded by terraced rice fields, forests, and traditional thatch-roofed Minka houses. The hotel will actively engage with the local community, creating an opportunity to take home good memories and a deeper connection with this region's culture, people and nature.
- work in progress -
CHALK GARDEN
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | London
Photo: Georgia Rothman
An English-Japanese garden, a tribute to the horticultural traditions of both our nations, is created by blending the essence of our cultures through the selection of plants and chalk stones. This fusion intertwines within the historic hexagonal structure of the Temperate House, which was built in1862 at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
BAMBOO SERENADE
County Hall Arts | London
Photo: Yuichi Kodai
The bamboo concert pavilion, designed to embrace British classical guitarist Alexandra Whittingham. The design artfully intertwines strings and bamboo along the banks of the river Thames, effortlessly uniting music and structure with the tranquil flow of the river and the caress of the wind.