Real estate prices might still be on the rise, but with every passing week, it seems there's a new, more affordable way to get your hands on your own tiny house. Last month, we introduced you to Unyoked, a start-up that lets you stay in your own designer cabin in the wilderness. In September 2016, we got excited about Australia's first ever flat-packed, off-grid, little homes.
Now, Japanese home goods giant MUJI has entered the arena. From August 2017, the MUJI Hut will go on sale in Japan. And its immaculately-designed twelve square metres of space will set you back $36,000.
The hut is 100% Japanese timber and is split into two spaces: an interior of nine square metres and a covered patio of three square metres. Glass doors provide a divide between the two, creating an indoor-outdoor feel. Inside, you're surrounded by warm cypress plywood and potting about on a mortar-covered floor. Meanwhile, the outside has been charred using shou sugi ban, a Japanese method that increases the wood's resistance to insects, decay and fire. Underneath, a concrete foundation keeps you protected from moisture and cold.
"It's not as dramatic as owning a house or a vacation home, but it's not as basic as going on a trip," the MUJI website reads. "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."
Before you go tree-changing, though, we do have to let you know that the MUJI Hut isn't selling outside Japan as of yet.