Sometimes, you just want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of life in the city. Sometimes, you want to head to the tranquility and serenity of the forest to declutter and clear your mind, hoping for a moment or a few to just breathe and relax away from the congestion of people.
If you live in Ito, Japan, then you have the chance to do just that.
Out in the town’s forests lies a cluster of 5 avant-garde homes, called Jikka, on top of a mountain.
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The structure looks like a little village fit for the most delightful fairy tale.
The mini mountain range-like structure is actually a small retirement village.
Jikka was created by Japanese architect Issei Suma, and the term actually means “parents home.”
And wouldn’t you know, it was Suma’s very own mother, Nobuko Suma, and her friend Sachiko Fujioka who wanted to create the structure after wanting a multi-functional and serene space where they could take care of one another in retirement.
Uhm, friendship goals?
The $535,000 village was made with the ladies’ future in mind.
There is a ramp for wheelchairs in the spiral-shaped bath, and there are no stairs.
The spacious magical home is also fixed with everything the women need, like a kitchen, dining and living spaces, bedrooms, and a bathroom.
The women don’t just want this village for themselves — they want it to be a place of refuge for other elderly people in the future.
As a matter of fact, the women are still making food in the home’s kitchen and delivering them to elderly individuals in need throughout the community.
Issei Suma developed a space that was down to earth, minimal, and multi-functional for generations to come.
“That’s my idea of universal design — it’s something that makes every generation happy,” Issei Suma told CNN .
h/t: CNN
