This is an image of a Muji Hut: a prefabricated micro-home produced by a popular Japanese “no-brand” store, Muji. It uses primarily Japanese materials, and is compact while providing enough space to live in. At the time of writing this, there appear to be three different models.
I think that in today’s culture, many people prefer simplicity to excess (perhaps as a way of refuting American consumerism). Over the past few years, there appears to have been more of a focus on micro-homes and living in a simple and minimalistic way. I believe that this product is desirable due to its extreme simplicity. This is a home that you could live in, anywhere, instantly. For some, this might represent an ideal way of living. Additionally, the home is said to be highly customizable, and very easy to clean.
While the previous review mostly provided details about the Muji Hut, I hope to have slightly expanded the scope of the review, thinking more about why anyone would want a prefabricated micro-home. In the first review, there appears to be a strong emphasis on the use of Japanese customs and materials in the construction of this home, which I focused on less.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
The well-loved Japanese “no-brand” purveyor of furniture and home goods launched a new line of prefab micro-homes, called Muji Hut. Take a look inside the three debut models designed by Konstantin Grcic, Jasper Morrison, and Naoto Fukasawa.
“Put it in the mountains, near the ocean, or in a garden, and it immediately blends in with the surroundings, inviting you to a whole new life.“
This was the vision behind our radically new MUJI Hut concept.
The interior is compact at 9m2, but the porch and the high shed roof create a space large enough for 3–4 people to relax in. The large window at the entrance was originally made to be a shop’s sliding door. Light and wind visit through another smaller window.
All of the wood used for the hut is from Japan. The outer walls are given enhanced antiseptic properties and durability by applying burned hardwood cladding. This is borrowed from the traditional art of Japanese shipbuilding, where builders burn cedar wood to increase its strength and add an oil stain finish. The inner wall surfaces are left untreated so you can design the interior any way you like.
The MUJI Hut has a raft foundation, which is the type used in ordinary homes. It provides strength and guards against ground moisture. The mortar floor surface is left as is. Even in dirt-prone environments, the floor can be used freely like an earthen floor. Since the floor surface is nice and smooth, cleaning is easy, and flooring or rugs can be laid anywhere to suit your taste.
