Insights from Architect’26

Over the course of the six-day event, we had the pleasure of welcoming both architecture and design professionals as well as individual visitors, who shared their needs, insights, and impressions with us. These conversations provided valuable perspectives on local preferences and emerging trends in the market.

One of the observations we gained was related to the local tile landscape. Many products appear to be dry-formed tiles produced through high-volume manufacturing using roller-hearth kilns, allowing them to be offered at relatively affordable prices. In contrast, both traditional Japanese wet-forming methods and the distinctive color expression created through Japanese firing processes, regardless of forming method, remain largely unfamiliar in the local market. This led us to feel that the material depth and aesthetic value that characterize our products could serve as a clear point of differentiation.

In this context, a large portion of visitors showed strong interest in unglazed collections featuring earthy textures and vivid natural tones, qualities rarely found in mass-produced products.

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  Overview of the WAKEI booth at Architect’26

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  Closer look at our panels

Unglazed Collections. Bring Vivid Natural Tones to Your Space

Building on these insights, we would like to take this opportunity to introduce some of WAKEI’s collections showcased at Architect’26, which reflect the key interests and preferences we perceived throughout the event. This selection also includes one of our sustainability-driven collections, developed through years of research and innovation. Our next article will further expand on WAKEI’s full range of sustainable collections.

Azuchi Muyu

Among the collections at our booth, Azuchi Muyu seemed to connect especially well with many visitors and their preferences, thanks to its combination of natural tones and subtle variations created through the use of colored clays. These characteristics give the unglazed stoneware series a balanced appearance suited to a wide range of architectural spaces.

Designed for both interior and exterior walls, as well as interior flooring, it offers a high level of flexibility and allows for different layout approaches through the combination of colors and formats.

Available formats: 95×95 mm / 25×200 mm
Available colors: 8 color options

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  Azuchi Muyu panel displayed at our booth

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  Megumi no Yu Hot Spring Spa
  Using four color combinations in the 25×200 mm format

Akatsuki

Akatsuki is a recycled tile series developed by WAKEI after years of investigation, that incorporates 40% molten slag derived from local industrial by-products and is manufactured using 100% recycled raw materials.

Designed for use across interior and exterior walls and flooring, Akatsuki offers high versatility and can be applied in a wide range of architectural contexts. Its large color variation and naturally irregular surface reinforce its material authenticity, making each installation unique. Over time, the surface develops a gentle patina, further enhancing its grounded and evolving character.

Available formats: 90×90 mm
Available colors: 2 color options

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  Akatsuki panel. AKA-2. Warm terracotta hues

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  Akatsuki AKA-1. Earthy depth and copper hues.

Classical

This unglazed stoneware flooring collection reinterprets a classical aesthetic through a natural appearance rich in depth and character. The combination of natural materials and reduction firing creates distinctive color shifts, giving each piece its own unique tone and bringing a sense of richness and authenticity to the space. Classical is available in Plain and Shade finishes, the collection offers different visual expressions that can adapt to a variety of styles and atmospheres.

Its slightly irregular shape creates a soft and pleasant surface underfoot, designed to provide greater comfort and a sense of safety when walking barefoot. An ideal solution for both interior and exterior flooring, as well as wet areas and residential bathrooms.

Available formats: 190×190 mm / 290×290 mm / Random Crush
Available colors: 4 color options
Available finishes: Plain / Shade

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  Classical panel displayed at our booth

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  Daikin Eau de Ciel Tateshina
  Design and construction: Takenaka Corporation

Summary

Architect’26 provided a valuable opportunity to observe how design preferences, material choices, and aesthetic sensibilities can vary across different regions and cultures, while also revealing shared interests and emerging directions within contemporary architecture.

If these trends and impressions have sparked your interest, we invite you to explore WAKEI’s Unglazed offerings: a range of collections shaped by a shared appreciation for materiality in its purest form, where unglazed ceramics reveal rich textures, depth, and natural variations that give each surface its own distinctive expression.

Note:This article has been reviewed using ChatGPT.