Core77

The Muji Hut, Yea or Nay?

This doesn't seem to make much sense

By Rain Noe - April 24, 2017

in Lifestyle | Architecture

We were excited to see Muji's architectural re-think of a house several years ago, but this latest effort is a bit puzzling. The company has announced they'll begin selling this Muji Hut with a shou-sugi-ban finish and nine square meters of interior space:

Enter a caption (optional)

While Muji refers to their concept as "radically new," a close examination of the plans does not reveal anything radical. In fact some of the decisions are downright odd. The Tiny House movement in America often designs things on wheels, so that the small structures can be moved. In contrast the Muji Hut is designed on a slab foundation, which is rather permanent.

Enter a caption (optional)

Furthermore the design has no provisions for plumbing nor electrical in the plans and description, but in several photos there is an electrical outlet, and a lamp plugged into it:

Enter a caption (optional)

Where's the generator, and/or solar panels and batteries?

Also, in this photo there's a woodburning stove shown inside:

Enter a caption (optional)

Yet there's no visible venting in photos of the exterior, nor provisions made for it in the plans. That's a rather glaring omission.

Enter a caption (optional)

The context in which this bedroom hut is meant to be used is completely unclear. The copy reads:

Who hasn't dreamt of living somewhere they really want to be? The tools to make that dream a reality are now available. It's not as dramatic as owning a house or a vacation home, but it's not as basic as going on a trip.

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.

The language evokes vacation/escape, but you can't place something with a slab foundation on land that you don't own. So is this hut designed for folks who already own stretches of property within which they can plop one of these down? As it has no running water, functional climate control nor electricity, it essentially seems like a ¥ 3,000,000 (USD $27,000) hard-sided tent.

In your mind, who is the target consumer, and what scenario do you envision this structure being used in?

o

Favorite This
Q
4

Comment

Comments

Sasha Gorski

7 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

This 'box' for mountainside feels terrible to me. Not just because of the uncomfortable feeling it makes (like a punishment for lonely person), or the extreme high price for a tool shed with glass door. No. This design is so terrible, because it says to me that non-designer now understand the high pricetag associated with the word 'Design'. Design is become a mockery of itself. A tagline for a sales pitch. Nothing more.

!Report as spam
Donald Judd

7 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

It kind of reminds me of some of Donald Judd's concrete boxes. I like the concept. The project needs to pay more attention to detail if it's going the minimalist route. The interior wall is a little patchy. The building's dimensions could have been adjusted to fit the 4x8 panels it used to clad the wall.
I don't hate the grounded slab foundation. I don't think it needs to be incredibly mobile. It may help mobility not having electricity, water, etc.
You could probably DIY and save a couple thousand.

!Report as spam
Juan Cano

7 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

There was something like this setup by I believe RISD students or Brown students here in Providence, near the river. Some kind of art project. Not an actual living environment. Just an art piece. That's what this reminds me of.

!Report as spam
- Peter Borges
  
  Juan Cano
  
  7 years ago
  
  Z
  
  Z
  
  Reply
  
  Do you mean the RISD|Brown Solar Pavilion?
  
  !Report as spam