“StudioHAU is a design and research office practicing at the intersection of architecture, the natural environment, and sustainable design. Themes and approaches thread through our projects.”

Established in 2016, StudioHAU is a design and research office with a focus on the intersection of sustainable architecture, urbanism, and space. A growing portfolio of completed projects reflect a timeless simplicity and unique statement through an intelligent use of material, form, proportion, and natural light. StudioHAU believes that buildings play a vital role in public life and aim to create places that inspire social interaction and personal reflection. Responding to the conditions of the site, StudioHAU develops environmentally responsive designs to enhance symbiosis between the natural forces of wind, water, and sun.

StudioHAU works very closely with clients and prioritizes efficient and responsible design, aiming to meet the objectives for programmatic and budget requirements, while creating places that are inspirational and move the human spirit. Led by Yo, the team produces perspective renderings, 3D animation, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to assist clients, stakeholders, consultants, and collaborators in understanding and visualizing unique projects. StudioHAU's approach aims to fulfill shared aspirations and dreams, while contributing positively to the community, and responding to the natural environment.

About the Founder

Yo-ichiro Hakomori received his Master of Architecture from the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of California Los Angeles, and a Doctor of Engineering in Architecture from the University of Tokyo. As founder of StudioHAU, Hakomori is working on projects in California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Nova Scotia. Previously Hakomori was a founding partner at wHY Architecture where he worked extensively on museums and single-family residences, including Tyler Museum of Art, Pomona College Studio Art Hall, and Grand Rapids Art Museum, the first LEED Gold museum in the country. In Los Angeles, Hakomori has worked with his teacher and mentor, Franklin D. Israel, and Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Tadao Ando, on an ambitious residence in Los Angeles. Engaged in educating the next generation of architects, Hakomori serves as a Professor of Practice and Director of Global Studies study abroad programs at the University of Southern California School of Architecture.