Pritzker Prize-winning architect Kazuyo Sejima has designed the Laview commuter train with huge passenger windows and a curved glass nose, which is now in operation between Tokyo and Saitama.
The trains designed by Tokyo-based architect Sejima, who heads up SANAA with Ryue Nishizawa, have been running on the line between Tokyo's Ikebukuro station and Chichibu in neighbouring Saitama prefecture since earlier this year.

Sejima said that she was asked to design a "as never seen before", and opted for the curved design with giant windows for passengers to enjoy the view.
"This is my first time to design a train and the most obvious difference with building design is that the train can move to different places," explained Sejima. "This train moves through the city to the mountains of Chichibu and I thought it would be nice for the train to be able to respond and blend into the surroundings in a soft way," she continued.

Windows are placed along each carriage at regular intervals. Each passenger window is 135 centimetres by 158 centimetres and the bottom of each pane falls well below the usual point on regular commuter trains, to allow passengers to enjoy "large panoramic views".
Each train has eight cars, with a total capacity of 422 seats. Sejima has designed both the design concept, exterior and interior of the carriages, with sofa-like seats upholstered in a bright yellow material.

The upholstery for the carriages was designed in co...