Takumi Wakui + Riho Wakui Architects

Takumi Wakui + Riho Wakui Architects is a Tokyo-based architectural practice led by partners Takumi Wakui and Riho Wakui. The studio specialises in high-density urban residential architecture, gaining widespread international recognition for its innovative solutions to compact city living. A cornerstone of their portfolio is the acclaimed "House in Kagurazaka", a four-story wooden residence completed in 2024 on a tight 33-square-metre plot, serving as a masterclass in maximising a highly restricted urban footprint.

The practice's design philosophy centres on reimagining traditional Japanese architectural typologies for modern, vertical contexts. By reinterpreting the narrow-fronted townhouse (machiya) into a vertical format, the architects push spatial depth upward to navigate dense neighbourhood subdivisions. Their approach emphasises material honesty through raw timber structures, alongside the strategic integration of lightwells and openings that flood tight, deep spaces with natural light and ventilation.