This private residence is situated in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. It features a distinctive triangular building that runs along a 110-meter-long road. A clever design solution was essential to block views from passing vehicles and pedestrians while creating a serene backdrop that blends with the natural surroundings.
The design employs concrete brick walls as filtering screens. Each brick is angled precisely to control the line of sight. In some areas, two rows of bricks overlap to fine-tune visibility. A single row directs the view in one direction, while overlapping rows allow visibility only when the brick angles in both rows align. Otherwise, the view is blocked.
The bricks are made from “CO2-SUICOM ※”, an innovative material that replaces part of the cement with industrial by-products and incorporates substances that absorb carbon dioxide during production—significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
About 2,050 bricks are arranged in a staggered pattern to form a five-sided wall standing 3 meters high. The concept behind the living space is to “fill gaps.” By adjusting the angles of the bricks in each room by three degrees, privacy is maintained in bedrooms and bathrooms, while the living and dining areas feel open and spacious. The bricks are ultimately arranged to create a gradient effect.
CO2-SUICOM (Carbon Storage and Utilization of Concrete Materials in Infrastructure) replaces more than half of the cement with eco-friendly alternatives, drastically reducing carbon dioxide emissions during concrete production. This material hardens by capturing CO2 from the air, effectively lowering the total carbon footprint to zero or even negative levels. Developed through a collaboration between Kajima, China Electric Power Corporation, Electrification, and Landes Co., it is the world’s first carbon-capturing concrete.
Project Drawings
△ Manuscript
Project Information
Architect: Nendo
Year: 2024
Photographers: Masahiro Ohgami, Takumi Ota
Collaborators: Niitsugumi, LANDES CO., LTD, Noritaka Ishibayashi, Hiro Shoji
Location: Karuizawa, Japan
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