MUJI unveils trio of tiny prefab homes that can pop up almost anywhere

Lovers of MUJI’s minimalist Japanese aesthetic will swoon over the retail chain’s latest project: Muji Hut, a series of tiny prefab homes befitting the simple yet chic brand.

Recently unveiled for Tokyo’s annual Design Touch event at Midtown Garden, the collection of micro-homes are designed to explore what it means to live a more sustainable lifestyle through minimalism. MUJI created the Muji Hut in collaboration with designers Naoto Fukasawa, Jasper Morrison, and Konstantin Grcic.

The temporary Muji Hut exhibition included Jasper Morrison’s ‘Hut of Cork,’ Konstantin Grcic’s ‘Hut of Aluminum,’ and Naoto Fukasawa’s ‘Hut of Wood.’ Each cozy building has a minimal lightweight footprint so that it can be easily moved and installed in a variety of locations. MUJI describes the prefab project as an “escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.”

All three micro-homes blend traditional Japanese elements with contemporary styles. Fukasawa’s Hut of Wood more closely resembles a traditional log cabin and opens up to views and natural light through floor-to-ceiling glazed sliding doors. Topped with a pitched roof, the timber home’s most notable features include a large traditional Japanese bath, a minimal cot for a bed, and a wood-burning stove.

In contrast, Morrison’s Hut of Cork trades the bathtub for a minimal shower under the assumption that residents will use the neighborhood communal bathhouse or hot spring. Colorful tatami mats line the floor while sound-absorbing cork panels clad the exterior.

Konstantin Grcic’s Hut of Aluminum is the most minimalist of the bunch. Sliding shoji-like doors open up to an all-wood interior, with the bedroom located on the upper loft. It’s not yet known if MUJI will push the designs to market.