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
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
Photo: Yuichi Kodai
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.
CLEARING
Art Flow - Kunst im Limattal | Zurich
Photo: Michel Comte & Yuichi Kodai
Artwork by Michel Comte & 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.
Manifesto: KODAI AND ASSOCIATES | Architecture • Garden • Art • Sustainability
Bridging the cultural heritage of Kyoto and the modern precision of Zürich, our practice operates on the principle of Gesamtkunstwerk—the total work of art. Founded by Yuichi Kodai (formerly of Herzog & de Meuron and SANDWICH Inc.) and Claudia Maggi, we specialize in holistic Japanese architecture, Zen garden design, and meditative art installations across Switzerland, Japan, and the UK.
From the traditional Kokera-buki wood roofing of the Kohtei Pavilion at the Shinshoji Zen Museum to award-winning landscapes like the Chalk Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, our work integrates sustainable timber construction with traditional Japanese craftsmanship. We are pioneers in bringing Yoshino wood (Sugi and Hinoki) to Europe, advocating for sustainable forest management and biophilic design that enhances human well-being and sensory mindfulness.
Our portfolio spans residential architecture, hospitality design, and cultural institutions, including projects in Kyoto, Tokyo, Zürich, London, and Paris. Whether creating a minimalist Swiss alpine retreat or a site-specific art installation, we translate heritage and memory into timeless, modern environments.
Manifesto: KODAI AND ASSOCIATES | Architektur • Garten • Kunst • Nachhaltigkeit
Als Brücke zwischen dem reichen kulturellen Erbe von Kyoto und der modernen architektonischen Präzision von Züricharbeitet unser Studio nach dem Leitprinzip des Gesamtkunstwerks. Gegründet von Yuichi Kodai (ehemals Herzog & de Meuron und SANDWICH Inc.) und Claudia Maggi, sind wir auf ganzheitliche japanische Architektur, Zen-Gartengestaltung und meditative Kunstinstallationen spezialisiert, die in der Schweiz, Japan und dem Vereinigten Königreich realisiert werden.
Von der traditionellen Kokera-buki-Holzschindelbedachung des Kohtei-Pavillons im Shinshoji Zen-Museum bis hin zu international ausgezeichneten Landschaften wie dem Chalk Garden in den Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, integriert unsere Arbeit nachhaltigen Holzbau mit meisterhafter japanischer Handwerkskunst. Wir fördern die Verwendung von hochwertigem Yoshino-Holz (Sugi und Hinoki) in Europa und setzen uns für eine biophile Gestaltung ein, die das menschliche Wohlbefinden, die mentale Gesundheit und die sensorische Achtsamkeit nachhaltig fördert.
Unser Portfolio umfasst Wohnarchitektur, Hotellerie-Design und Kulturinstitutionen in Städten wie Kyoto, Tokio, Zürich, London und Paris. Ob wir einen minimalistischen Rückzugsort in den Schweizer Alpen entwerfen oder eine ortsspezifische Kunstinstallation schaffen – wir übersetzen Tradition und Erinnerung in zeitlose, moderne Lebensräume.