Architecture

One-of-a-kind minimalist retreat built using concrete box culverts

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The Culvert Guesthouse is located in Miyota-machi, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse is located in Miyota-machi, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse pulls double duty as both a storage facility and a guesthouse
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse creates a terraced area outside with seating and a dining table
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse's terrace area is enclosed with glass
Takumi Ota
It's difficult to tell from the photos, but the Culvert Guesthouse contains multiple doors
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse doors feature a custom door handle designed by Nendo
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse includes two storage areas, though Nendo plans to add more as required, so the building will eventually grow in size
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse consists of two floors, which are accessed by discrete doorways and staircases
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse includes a small study area
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse includes a simple bedroom which has lots of natural light thanks to the generous glazing
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse's doors are modeled after Japanese-style Shoji Screens
Takumi Ota
The Culvert Guesthouse includes a minimalist kitchen area
Takumi Ota
View gallery - 12 images

Sleeping in a culvert generally means you've fallen on some hard times, but that's not the case with this unique new project by Nendo. Named the Culvert Guesthouse, it involved constructing a minimalist retreat from the precast concrete box culverts that are usually used to build waterways and tunnels.

The Culvert Guesthouse is located in Miyota-machi, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and doubles as both a rural getaway and a storage space.

It takes the form of four stacked concrete "pipes," plus a roof section in the center. The interior is divided into two storage rooms (more will be added to the site in the future, as storage needs grow), plus the living area. This has a kitchen and bathroom on the first floor, with a bedroom and study area on the second floor.

The structure also forms a shaded terrace area that's enclosed with glass. The generous glazing throughout the building helps fill the interior with light, though the compact dimensions of some of its internal spaces could give claustrophobes some issues.

The Culvert Guesthouse includes a simple bedroom which has lots of natural light thanks to the generous glazing
Takumi Ota

Nendo went to considerable effort to retain the ultra-minimalist look of the project. The windows were installed with barely visible slim metal frames and the firm even created its own door handles, which are hidden in the small gap between the door and the wall, so as to not spoil the effect.

The entire construction process sounds quite involved too. Nendo joined together a total of 63 sections of box culvert using wires to lend the project a uniform appearance and hopefully ensure no water leakage when it rains.

"The common square-shaped parts weigh approximately 12 tons each, and a total of 63 of these parts were used," explained Nendo. "The size of the parts was derived from the loading size of the delivery truck and the weight that could be lifted by a crane. The 45-degree reinforcement at the entry corner, which is also found in general box culverts, serves as a brace and enhances earthquake resistance.

"By connecting these parts, a slender, tunnel-shaped space with an internal dimension of approximately 2 x 2.3 m [6.5 x 7.5 ft] was created. Fourteen wires were used to connect each 'tunnel' and care was taken to apply uniform tension to each wire at all times. The work involved gradually tightening the wires over time until a tension of 46 tons was finally applied to each."

The video below shows some more detail on the construction process.

Source: Nendo

View gallery - 12 images
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13 comments
Chase
I'm sure it will be useful for the future set of some dystopian sci-fi movie or tv show
Karmudjun
Pretty Blah.
Took some patience to endure the music looking for any scenic view to process or mitigate my dismay at the design.
I agree with Chase - it is pretty dystopian in appearance.
Chunk
It looks like the Official Waiting Room Of Soylent Green.
Oirinth
culvert guesthouse .. for guests you don't want staying long
anthony88
I designed house that uses drainage tubes but so far getting it built is just a pipe dream.
tokyotea
Nagano. Famous for freezing temperatures and deep snow in winter, damp air and bugs in summer, and earthquakes any time. My old wooden farmhouse (minka) 1.5km from the Pacific Ocean and 30m above sea level seems just a bit more comfortable today.
ChairmanLMAO
Show me a concrete box house and I'll show you a person who lived under Las Vagas. What kind of crane signals was that?
pbethel
Art.
Not abode.
ljaques
In a word: NOPE! Imagine waking up and thinking you've camped out in a hallway somewhere. Tubes do not make a domicile, a habitat, or a home, at least not for most humans.
Lamar Havard
A lot more well-suited as storm shelters and bunkers, or buried for root cellars. But one good thing...I DID steal the music for my phone alarm!