Architect Tsukasa Ono designs the new Sumu Yakashima housing project right on Japan's Yakushima island with the goal of improving life for humans and the natural setting of the environment. To design the space, the studio took a regenerative approach and does so by improving the soil by promoting the overall growth of natural bacteria and mycelium.
The space is now a community that has eight co-owners and sits right along a hillside surrounded by a farm and faces the sea. Ono recalls the initial concept, stating that "We were temporarily living at my friend Yuki Imamura's hotel on Yakushima island. We started to make a concept for a small project but it was so exciting that the project kept getting bigger so we accepted some more good friends to join us."
Image Credit: Tsukasa Ono
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Regenerative Housing
- Opportunity for architects and developers to incorporate regenerative practices in housing projects for improved human life and environmental sustainability.
- Co-operative Living
- Potential for the growth of co-operative living communities as an alternative housing option that promotes unity and social cohesion.
- Community-focused Design
- Increasing focus on designing spaces that encourage community and social interactions for a better quality of life.
Sectors Adopting This
- Architecture
- Opportunity for architecture firms to incorporate sustainable and community-focused design practices in their housing projects.
- Real Estate
- Potential for real estate developers to create co-operative living communities that meet the changing needs and preferences of consumers.
- Environmental Conservation
- Growing market for companies that promote environmental sustainability through regenerative practices in housing and urban planning.
