H House, Sendai
Perched on the tip of a promontory above a terraced cliff, this residence opens onto a broad and ever-changing horizon. From the north side, the site offers a panoramic view of the city of Sendai: a constant presence that becomes the natural backdrop of everyday life.
To frame and amplify this view, we designed a large frame structure extending from east to west, a continuous sequence spanning the full width of the lot. The generous, unobstructed light ensures that every space benefits from the panorama. The structure is composed of repeated frames over 10 meters long, matching the maximum width of the site.
The construction system is realized in LVL 60×360, with two beams connected to each column and rigid joints between the wooden elements. This arrangement provides both stability and continuity, transforming the frame into a light yet resolute structural line.
Logistics presented an additional challenge: the narrow adjacent road restricted the transport of large elements. To overcome this, the beams were assembled on-site, joined with precision to achieve the final 10-meter span. A process that blends engineering with artisanal care, giving form to a structure that not only supports the house but defines its character.
The result is an architecture that opens naturally to the landscape, turning the view into a design element and the frame into a poetic gesture. A house that lives in the dialogue between structure and horizon.
Architecture SOY source architects Leading Eng. Shimizu Structural Engineering Year2021StructuresReinforced Concrete, TimberPhotosIzuru Echigoya
Architecture SOY source architects Leading Eng. Shimizu Structural Engineering Year2021StructuresReinforced Concrete, TimberPhotosIzuru Echigoya




