A New Limited Express Train Supervised by Kazuyo Sejima: The All-New Seibu Laview

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots / Kumiko / Compiled and Translated   Photos by Seibu Railway

This new limited express train adopts three major design concepts, aiming to be an "unprecedentedly new type of train" in both appearance and interior. For example, the front of the train is the first in Japan to use glass material, and the large windows on the body are also an innovative design.

As for the design team, in addition to guidance on the basic design by the renowned architectural firm SANAA under Kazuyo Sejima, designer Yasuko Ando was in charge of the fabric patterns inside the train, while lighting designer Masaru Toyohisa handled the lighting design, all contributing to the creation of this new limited express train.

The three major design concepts include: a limited express train that naturally blends into urban scenery and natural landscapes, a limited express train that offers every passenger a comfortable and relaxing experience like a living room, and a limited express train that creates new value—not just as a means of transportation, but as a space that offers passengers full enjoyment.

Features of the exterior design include the use of large, three-dimensional curved glass for the front of the train, a first in Japan. The carriage color scheme is designed to naturally blend into urban scenery and natural landscapes, using aluminum materials with coatings. The cabin windows are arranged at equal intervals with continuous windows, making the train a space where every passenger can relax comfortably like in a living room. Even the size of the windows is meticulously designed to create a comfortable riding environment.