konstantin grcic rethinks aluminium truck container construction for his compact muji hut in tokyo

tokyo designers week: german designer konstantin grcic has developed an aluminum hut for japanese company muji, which has been presented at the design touch 2015 event in midtown garden during tokyo design week 2015. grcic worked around japanese building regulations and the enclosed space is small enough to be built without the need for local planning permission. measuring just 3×3.3×4.5 meters, the hut uses the same lightweight technology and fabrication system as delivery trucks, with similar joining methods and corner detailing.

the hut is taller than large, small enough to be erected without the need for local planning permission
(above and main) image © designboom

‘the hut is just a space — it doesn’t have to be a fully functioning place for living,’ explains konstantin grcic. ‘there doesn’t have to be water or electricity. it is just a space for doing something. for example, if you are a painter you may use it as a studio.’

the walls have an insulating foam core, which is sandwiched between a layer of aluminum on the outside and plywood on the inside. these panels are both structural and insulative. the rigid and self-supportive nature of the design ensures that it can be placed in a variety of terrains, offering flexible internal space for its occupants. the hut is one of three designed for the muji huts initiative, with others completed by jasper morrison and naoto fukasawa. with prices ranging from $25,000 – $40,000 USD, each of the minimal dwellings will be available to purchase starting in 2017.

the rigid nature of the structure ensures that it can be placed in a variety of terrains
image © designboom

the interior aluminum muji hut has two split levels
image courtesy of muji

the hut uses the same lightweight technology and fabrication system as delivery trucks
image © designboom

image © designboom

‘as a designer you have to set certain constraints for yourself‘, continues grcic. ‘the word ‘constraints’ may sound limiting, but it is not at all about anything negative. I wanted to create a small hut, the size mattered to me. I asked about building regulations in japan, and how can we construct something small enough to avoid building permission. the measurement that I was told then defined the size of the hut. the structure is taller than the floor plan, and that was something that came out of these measurements’.

the structural walls have an insulating foam core
image © designboom

green strap detail
image © designboom

the rear of the compact aluminum structure
image © designboom

the aluminum muji hut been erected in tokyo’s midtown garden
image © designboom

image courtesy of muji

image © designboom

designboom met konstantin grcic at the tokyo presentation of his aluminum muji hut
image © designboom

the hut can be sealed and secured for transportation

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