Nobu entered the zeitgeist as a sushi restaurant, known for reinterpreting local ingredients in unexpected ways, before expanding globally with a line of upscale branded hotels that do the same with materiality. As a result, they are arguably as well known for cultivating an aesthetic as they are for sushi, characterized by each location’s culturally attuned design.
Now, in a natural progression, they are designing residences. At Nobu Residences Los Cabos, WATG and Studio PCH have distilled Nobu’s aesthetic ethos into a residential experience, blending Japanese minimalism with Baja California influence.
In conversation with DNN, Mark Yoshizaki, Managing Principal of Architecture, Tustin Studio, WATG, discusses how he and his design team elaborated upon the Nobu brand by creating luxury residences that naturally transition from hotel to home.
Nobu’s hospitality brand expansion
DNN: Nobu began as a restaurant brand, expanded into hotels, and now includes residences. How do you bring those layers of identity together in the design? How do you create a space that feels like a restaurant, a hotel and a home all at once?
MY: The architecture and landscape design draw from Nobu’s signature Japanese minimalism, but the brand identity is anything but singular. What started as a standout culinary experience has evolved into a full lifestyle that now includes hotels and residences. In Los Cabos, the challenge was bringing those layers together while staying true to the character and culture of the destination.
Early conversations with Nobu’s founding team, including Meir Teper, gave us meaningful insight into what gives a Nobu space its personality. It is elevated but relaxed, luxurious without being overworked. When the Chapur family invited us to partner with their development team for the first ground-up Nobu resort, we were truly honored and worked closely with them through design and construction.
Just like Nobu’s menus reinterpret local ingredients in unexpected ways, we approached the design by asking what materials, textures, and experiences would feel authentic to both Nobu and Los Cabos. The goal was not to create one space that tries to serve every purpose, but to shape an experience that moves naturally from restaurant to guest room to residence, each with its own feel yet all part of the same story.
Fluidity between home and hospitality
DNN: Boutique short-term rentals has changed how people define luxury, how they travel and how they design their homes. How has that shift influenced your approach to this project?
MY: Nobu already had a strong identity and a clear audience, so the focus was on how to make its first ground-up resort stand out and set a new standard for the brand within the hospitality space. It was about giving the Nobu experience space to grow and staying ahead of how people want to live and travel.
That said, there was early consideration for short-term rental options. The idea was to offer units for sale and gauge interest in ownership, with the added option for buyers to rent out their units as part of the hotel inventory. This line of thinking eventually evolved into branded residences, which offered a more permanent and adaptable solution. Owners could choose to live there full-time or treat the property as an investment, renting it to guests who are drawn to both the Nobu experience and the destination of Los Cabos.
DNN: There is a growing blur between home and hospitality. Homeowners want the comforts of a hotel, and hotels want to feel more like home. How do you strike that balance at Nobu Residences Cabo?
MY: Studio PCH led the interior design and played a key role in creating the sense of comfort and warmth that defines the residential experience at Nobu Residences Los Cabos. Their work reflects the brand’s identity while elevating the residences with thoughtful, amenity-rich interiors.
On the architecture and landscape side, WATG’s focus was on creating fluid spaces that feel connected and intuitive for both hotel guests and residential owners. We looked for moments that encourage interaction and bring energy to the shared areas between hotel and home.
Landscape played an especially important role at the ground level, where some suites open to private terraces with plunge pools and barbecue areas. The synergy between interior, architecture, and landscape creates transitions that feel natural and cohesive.
DNN: Do you think residential design will continue to take cues from hospitality, or is it beginning to shift back toward something more personal and private?
MY: With more than 80 years in hospitality design, WATG has developed a strong understanding of how to elevate residential environments through the lens of luxury and guest experience. The exchange of ideas between hospitality and residential design goes both ways. Many of our projects include branded residences or multifamily components, so we are constantly working at that intersection.
Residential design today draws on hospitality for its refined finishes, lifestyle-driven amenities, and attention to experience, while hospitality increasingly echoes residential design to bring a sense of ease, comfort, and personal touch. It is not about one influencing the other; it is a two-way conversation.
Because we work across both sectors, we are able to translate insights between markets to create spaces that feel elevated, livable, and attuned to the expectations of travelers and residents.
DNN: Traditional hotel branding is becoming less of a priority for travelers. People want to feel connected to the place they are in, not just the brand behind it. How are you bringing a sense of place into Nobu Residences Cabo?
MY: At Nobu Residences Los Cabos, we focused on honoring the site’s natural beauty and cultural context. The architecture draws from indigenous Mexican forms and Japanese design principles, using simple lines and natural materials such as granite, limestone, Cabo stone, and warm woods. It also needed to align with the architectural language of the hotel, maintaining a cohesive visual and experiential connection across the property.
We worked closely with the site’s features — its ocean views, desert landscape, and proximity to the golf course — to create outdoor spaces with a layered experience, from quiet garden areas to sweeping views of the Pacific.
One of my strongest memories is walking the property with the client’s construction team and being struck by the local craftsmanship of the stonework. That level of detail gave the project its grounding in place and made it feel truly authentic.
Wellness design in home and hospitality
DNN: Wellness is now a major force in both residential and hospitality design. What does that look like in this project, and how is it influencing the overall experience?
MY: Wellness, in this project, is about creating moments of calm and connection. It starts with thoughtful design through serene, quiet spaces, breezeways, and areas strategically positioned to capture natural light. These elements, integrated through the architecture, landscape architecture, and the sequence of spaces, encourage a sense of ease and restoration.
Water plays a big role. Multiple pools and waterways are spread throughout the property, which provide a calming presence. Guests can enjoy private swim-up cabanas or stay in rooms with direct pool access, making it feel like their own personal retreat.
Wellness is not just about the guests and residents. A lot of care went into designing efficient back-of-house areas to improve the daily experience for staff. In many resorts, the layout can be so spread out that employees spend 20 minutes just getting from one point to another. Here, we streamlined circulation to make the work environment more functional and pleasant. Happy staff contribute to a more relaxed, welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
DNN: Over the course of your career, what has been the most significant shift in how people want to live and how they want to travel?
MY: Since the pandemic, the biggest shift has been the rise of remote work where people are no longer tied to one place. I know people who spend months at a time living and working from different cities. Travel and daily life have really started to overlap, and that has changed what people expect from both.
When it comes to branded residences, travelers who are away for extended periods often prefer staying somewhere that feels familiar and reliable. That is something we have considered in our residential projects, where we intentionally design dedicated office spaces into the homes. It is becoming essential, and I think we will see even more of that moving forward.
A second life online
DNN: Social media platforms, especially Instagram, are shaping how people think about design. Has that changed what your clients expect from a project like Nobu Residences Cabo?
MY: Clients are definitely aware of the influence social media has, and so are we. As designers, we think about spaces that invite people to capture and share their experiences. We often talk about creating “photographable moments,” and at a place like Nobu Residences Los Cabo, that is part of the conversation from the start.
Every time I visited the site, there were people taking photos — not just families on vacation but influencers documenting themselves within a unique setting. Social media plays a major role in how destinations are promoted and how brands are perceived. From destination weddings to lifestyle content, these moments can be seen by a wide audience.
WATG has designed many iconic destinations, and now we are seeing how those places take on a second life online. Social media has made resorts and experiences more visible and desirable; people see them and add them to their travel list.
DNN: Nobu has always drawn inspiration from Japanese design and philosophy. How are those cultural influences expressed in the residences, particularly in a location like Cabo with its own distinct character?
MY: Japanese minimalist design was interpreted through the materials, forms, and spatial sensibility of Nobu Residences Los Cabos. Rather than replicating traditional Japanese architecture, the approach channels its core principles of balance, simplicity, and restraint through a regional lens that responds to the surrounding local landscape and vernacular.
Building on the success of the hotel, we extended the established design framework into the residences, introducing amenities and nuanced elements aligned with what today’s homeowners value. The client saw an opportunity to translate the hotel guest experience, rooted in a strong sense of place, into the residential offering.
Taken as a whole, the property reflects a thoughtful, context-driven vision across architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. From arrival to leisure, from short-term stay to long-term living, every component is designed to feel connected. It is the poem that Nobu Residences Los Cabos offers.
DNN: How are you thinking about materials, energy use and environmental impact in this project?
MY: We worked closely with the client from the beginning, with a shared focus on achieving strong operational efficiency and maximizing long-term value, while aligning the guest and resident experience with Nobu’s design ethos.
We considered every aspect of the site, from building placement to sun angles, prevailing breezes, and opportunities for natural shading. Wind-protected outdoor areas offer privacy and year-round comfort, while open-air lounges create a direct connection to the landscape. Through detailed massing studies and coordination with local height regulations, we identified design strategies to support the property’s diverse programming.
Local materials like Cabo’s Blanco stone were prioritized, and resilience was built into the landscape with water retention strategies and native plantings, including Palo Blanco, Elephant Tree, Cardón, and Agave. From hotel to residences, the goal was to create a built environment responsive to its natural setting.
The build environment as art
DNN: What role does art and curation play in shaping the environment at Nobu Residences Cabo? Are you collaborating with local artists, galleries or creative partners?
MY: From an architectural standpoint, we see the built environment itself as art. Architecture is dimensional and textural. It is a creative expression, and that is what draws many of us to this profession. Especially with a new build, where you are quite literally starting from the ground up, the design becomes a sculptural response to the materials and the site.
At Nobu Residences Los Cabos, the design tells an artistic story from the moment of arrival. The series of courtyards in particular feels like an open-air gallery of organic, sculptural forms. Immense fire bowls cast light and shadow, and a “mountain” composition in stone gradually curves through the entry sequence. The Water Courtyard features a dark stone reflecting pool surrounded by bamboo, with a native tree standing as a natural work of art. The restrained use of water adds a quiet, contemplative quality to the experience.
DNN: Is there a project you have worked on that holds personal or professional meaning for you, even if it was not the most high-profile?
MY: There have been many great projects at WATG that I have enjoyed being part of, but the one I am working on now feels particularly rewarding. The Four Seasons Private Residences Las Vegas is currently under construction, and I have been able to apply my years of experience in hospitality and residential design to a unique and ambitious project. Seeing it come to life in real time is incredibly satisfying.
It has also been a great opportunity to use insight gained from Nobu to inform a new branded residential context. We are designing the Four Seasons residences to reflect the character of Nevada while keeping their brand’s standard of excellence front and center. The development includes two towers and 171 condominium homes, with a mix of active social spaces and private, exclusive retreats. Residents will have access to more than 90,000 square feet of resort-level amenities.
This will be the first high-rise structure in Henderson, and the challenging sloped terrain prompted a distinctive architectural response that will result in a remarkable presence on the hillside. The client brings in-depth market knowledge and remains highly engaged throughout, which continues to inform and inspire the design process. It is an exciting time in design, as hospitality and residential thinking continue to influence one another in meaningful ways.
