Chatai pavilion by Nikken Sekkei and Sobokuya at Dubai Design Wek 2025 – All photos are by ©Sandeep Mathur, courtesy of Nikken Sekkei, unless stated.

Design. In the heart of Dubai Design Week, Nikken Sekkei and Sobokuya join forces to unveil Chatai, a pop-up pavilion that gracefully bridges cultures through design, craftsmanship, and hospitality. At once intimate and inviting, Chatai celebrates the delicate nuances of Japanese tradition while embracing the multicultural spirit of the Middle East. Within its serene timber frame, visitors are welcomed to pause, sit on a tatami mat, admire blooming ikebana displays, and experience a moment of quiet connection over more than just a cup of tea.

• RELATED STORIES: Read more about Dubai Design Week 2025 on Archipanic.

Conceived as a cross-cultural dialogue, Chatai embodies an exchange between two worlds that, while distinct, share a reverence for ritual, detail, and community. As Nikken Sekkei explains, “We want people in the Middle East to experience traditional Japanese culture, increasing understanding and interest in our country.” The pavilion thus serves not only as an architectural gesture but also as a bridge of empathy—inviting reflection, appreciation, and discovery.

Drawing inspiration from both the Chashitsu, or traditional tea room, and the Yatai, Japan’s casual street-side food stall, Chatai merges formality with spontaneity. The result is a space where conversation flows naturally and where design becomes a vessel for connection.

Handcrafted by Sobokuya, a carpentry studio in Yamanashi, the structure embodies centuries-old Japanese woodworking traditions. “Each tree was carefully selected, and every material was treated through a dialogue between the craftsman and the wood,” the makers explain. Collaborations with Japanese partners—Panasonic for lighting and Hiroshima Tatamiya for tatami materials—further enrich the atmosphere. Soft Noren fabrics flutter gently above, while Manga graphics and Ikebana floral compositions add layers of life and artistry.

Courtesy of Dubai Design Week.

Inside, UAE-based studio Abjad presents a limited-edition gift book and a showcase celebrating Nikken Sekkei’s design ethos. “Although concise like a Haiku—Japanese traditional short poetry—the book reflects a profound and evocative worldview.”

In every detail, Chatai reminds visitors that design is not merely built form—it is a language of connection, culture, and care.

All photos by ©Sandeep Mathur and courtesy of Nikken Sekkei – unless stated.

• RELATED STORIES: Discover more Japanese architecture and design from Japan on Archipanic.

Courtesy of Dubai Design Week.