Weekend House in Karuizawa

Set in a woodland area an hour’s drive from Tokyo, the house commands a panoramic view on all sides. The mini-tower seems to exist without vertical elements; indeed, not even the individual storeys are legible. Everything is concealed behind a layer of laminated cedar strips, which are rigidly fixed to timber columns more than 10 m high. To avoid the use of diagonal members, rigid connections were necessary for the prefabricated Vierendeel facade structure. This was achieved with annular split-ring connectors. The facade boarding ensures a restrained appearance. Bands of glazing between the cedar strips afford sensuous glimpses into the house and do justice to the underlying concept of transparency.