The CLT trailer is a trailer house useful for the new normal of off-site living and glamping. It was inspired by the Nakagin Capsule Tower Building, built in 1972 by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa and demolished in April 2022.

The former steel capsule building concept is based on architecture’s metabolism. Its purpose is to remove and use the capsule for various purposes, such as a villa, a children’s room, or an adult’s study. We inherited the idea of this capsule building and redesigned it as a CLT wooden trailer.

CLT has excellent insulation, fire resistance, durability, and sound insulation. It can be assembled into a trailer house in two hours using a prefabricated method that combines six factory CLT panels. It uses Japanese cedar cross-laminated boards, which are expected to preserve forests and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The exterior is finished in white using a waterproofing coating method, just like the original capsule.

The interior of the former Nakagin Capsule was white and equipped with the most advanced TV, stereo, and telephone of the time. Therefore, the CLT trailer is also equipped with next-generation equipment. It has round windows that open and close with a horizontal aluminum axis, a desk, an extendable table, a sofa, a bed, a Wi-Fi speaker, and a tuner-less TV. The LED lighting changes to various colors and can be changed daily using a tablet or smartphone.

In Japan, this CLT trailer is treated as a vehicle; if fixed, it must be registered as a building. It can be used as a study for remote work by nomads, a base for camping at the destination, or for glamping.

The structure features internal dimensions of 3940mm in length, 2340mm in width, and 2340mm in height, with external dimensions of 4060mm on the long side, 2460mm in length and height. Built on a 2-axle, 4-wheel chassis measuring 4000mm long, 2400mm wide, and 790mm high, the total weight comes to 2470kg, including the CLT superstructure and chassis.

Constructed from CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels, the exterior is coated with a high-strength urethane and rubber asbestos composite. The floor, walls, and ceiling expose the natural CLT panels with a clear finish. The electrical system includes a distribution board (100V 30A) with six circuits plus two, powered by a detachable, single-phase three-wire dedicated supply.

Category:TransportationAward Year:2025Designers:Toshihiko Suzuki, ATELIER OPA Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Manufacturer:Takao Nishizawa, Aya Chiba, Sakura Sekkei Group Structural Design Office, Kurashi-Koubou Daiwa, MEIKEN LAMWOOD Corp., Tada Mokko Co., Ltd., FoneN Co., LTD., Trailer House Development Co., Ltd., ATELIER OPA Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan