tunnel by takehiko suzuki architects is a small hut in tokyo clad in charred japanese cedar

near shakujii park in tokyo, takehiko suzuki architects has completed ‘tunnel’, a detached single room designed as an empty shelter for an engineer to focus on his work and study.

externally, the small hut is covered in charred rough-hewn japanese cedar, which creates a textured façade and allows the structure to merge into the woods. the interior comprises a single space clad in curved wooden walls that gently diffuse natural light coming from a skylight on the north side of the building.‘we have created a space like a tunnel which runs three-dimensionally from the west to north façade of the building,’ explains takehiko suzuki architects, noting that ‘a space like a tunnel’ translates into ‘a space constructed with plane and curved surface, and connected to the outside at both ends.’ situated near tokyo’s shakujii park, which is full of nature and rich history, including ruins from japan’s jomon era, excavated just 50 meters from the site, the hut is designed as a space where the owner can focus on his work, and simultaneously reconnect with this rich environment.

a low-height ‘sweep-out’ window is introduced at the west end of the building, where the owner can enjoy a framed view towards the ruins and the forest beyond. at the same time, to the north, a fixed window — four meters from the floor level — gently diffuses natural light into the interior. as a result, the space acquires an intimate quality thanks to the curved envelopment of the surfaces, as well as the connection to the external environment.