Smaller is ... Better?

The idea of a home brings forth the feeling of comfort, relaxation, and rejuvenation. In which all three of these attest to the feelings we all hope to get when we enter our houses after a long day. There have always been spoken dreams of living in lavish mansions, or expensive, open apartments, but would you be able to live in one of Japan’s micro homes?

What is a micro home?

Minimalism seems to have taken majority of the world’s population by storm. With Japan recently having their spotlight on a man who lives minimally, owning only three shirts and four pairs of pants, these micro homes designed by Yasuhiro Yamashita, from Atelier Tekuto, are both beautiful and minimal. These lifestyles are being pulled from Zen beliefs, sticking to the idea that there is no need for anything more than the fundamentals.

With over 300 houses designed by Yamashita, Japan’s demand for small homes also results from the scarcity of land, property prices and taxes, and frequent earthquakes. The designer’s homes all start at 182 square feet and maximizes natural light and storage space with each home’s structure and unique shape.

While the space in these homes may be small, the Atelier Tekuto company designers also utilize simple tricks to make the interiors appear larger, such as extending ceilings, having large, open windows, and utilizing the color white. Creating homes in these small, often unwanted, plots of land have thus resulted in beautiful homes that make living both comfortable and affordable.

Smaller IS better, at least for citizens in Japan. 

Image courtesy of CNN.com article