escape the city with SANU's timber cabins scattered in rural sites across japan

 a rentable 2ND HOME for JAPAN’s city dwellers

when 517 people living in tokyo‘s metropolitan area were asked do you want to spend more time in nature?, 77% of them answered a resounding yes. japanese startup SANU has responded to this growing desire to get out of the city with a series of rentable timber cabins scattered across nature-rich sites in japan.

the cabins are envisioned as a ‘second home’ for members who pay a monthly fee of ¥50,000 ($441 USD). with this subscription, members can reserve and enjoy any cabin at any time. whether they’re looking for a remote workplace or just a bit of R&R, the tiny homes aim to bring people closer to nature.

images by timothee lambrecq

designed by architecture studio ADX, the cabins have a lightweight yet sturdy honeycomb structure, which is realized using a minimum number of parts. the prefabricated structures are made using 100% japanese cedar, which is supported by six piles to minimize concrete to reduce the environmental impact. the cabins can be easily dismantled and rebuilt elsewhere, and with minimal use of nails and glue, the building materials can also be reused at the end of the SANU CABIN’s lifespan.

the compact space comprises an open and comfortable living room, a wooden deck where guests can have breakfast while admiring the view, a kitchen, a bathroom, a workspace, a wood stove, and a home theater screen. the interiors are characterized by a sense of warmth and openness while the main glazed elevation frames views of the natural scenery outside.

the SANU CABINS are to be erected in a total of two locations with five cabins by the end of 2021, all of which can be reached from the center of tokyo in 1.5 – 3 hours. by the summer of 2022, the company aims to have 50 cabins across seven sites.

see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

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project info:

name: SANU 2nd HOME

company: SANU

architecture: ADX

photography: timothee lambrecq | @moussti