Japanese architectural style developed in the Azuchi-Momoyama (15741600) and Tokugawa (16031867) 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 (18941974) pioneered a modern sukiya style using contemporary materials.