While some get off on having all the latest and greatest products, more people than ever try to do more with less. As a result, the tiny house movement gains ever-more traction. Though the houses are small, the philosophy behind them is anything but; it isn’t necessarily about sacrifice, but rather about stripping away the unnecessary. Reasons also include environmental concerns, financial concerns and the desire for more time and freedom. Now, Japanese home brand MUJI is encouraging it’s customers to embrace nature by selling prefabricated tiny houses.

“It’s not as dramatic as owning a house or a vacation home, but it’s not as basic as going on a trip,” explains MUJI. “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.”

As questions about how we can live sustainable lives is as relevant as ever, this might be just one of the solutions. Made entirely out of Japanese wood, utilizing traditional shipbuilding techniques and constructed on a raft foundation for heating and cleaning ease, the hut is an archetype for innovative design thinking and minimalism.

There’s something about MUJI’s miniaturised house that’s irresistible. The kind of attraction to a unique or unusual place to stay that sometimes outshines — or at least equals with — a destination. Build in the company’s signature, the hut is by all means a feast for the eye.

Text: Marije Popping
Photography: Muji