Muji's Pre-Fab Home Built for Minimalists

Muji has introduced the Yō no Ie, a single-story prefabricated home with a big outdoor deck to encourage indoor-outdoor life.

Yō no Ie, or Plain House, is designed for usage in rural areas and is the first stair-free home in Muji's prefabricated timber home series, which debuted in 2004.

The 74m² construction answers to a rising desire for low-profile homes in suburban Japan, and the retail business thinks it will provide "a wide spectrum of generations" additional housing options.

Yō no Ie House's basic external treatment is Japanese chestnut, with a roof constructed of galvalume steel sheets. There will also be a selection of basic designs available to accommodate various land sizes.

It is presently only available in Japan, where it is priced at ¥15,980,000 (about US$140,000).

The pre-fab home does allow for some modification, such as changing the layout to fit the landscape and selecting finishing options to match the exterior. Furniture has been developed to complement the style of the property, but it is optional, so the homeowner can bring antiques with them.

The main bedroom of the home features a natural wood wardrobe, bookshelves, bed, and workstation.

The living room, kitchen, and bedroom are all articulated in a continuous area with no partitions on the ground level.

The house is completely open to the exterior, allowing its residents to reconnect with nature in their daily lives.

Outside, wooden seats provide seating for a central fireplace, which may be used to keep warm on cold winter days.