Japan – Muji's affordable single-person homes have been designed for Japan's elderly population.
With a stair-free and low-maintenance set-up, the open-plan dwellings – titled Yō no Ie – have been created in a way that complements their outdoor environment and welcomes natural light. Featuring decking with space for a vegetable garden, the entire building encourages indoor-outdoor living and offers the kind of natural setting that can be hard for elderly people to access in Japan’s urban environments.
Designed in keeping with Muji’s minimal aesthetic, the cedar-boned homes were originally conceptualised as a solution to dense city living in Japan, but have evolved into a comfortable solution for senior citizens. The prefabricated homes are even built to withstand the region’s earthquakes, with steel finishes that ensure a safe living space.
While Muji has centred its home concept around natural, simple living for elderly citizens, our Opinion piece from Future Facility explores an alternative future in which technology-driven homes empower older people through innovations such as voice-driven appliances.