You know you love your Momma if you build her a house! I kid, but this amazing story shows thoughtfulness and forward thinking. Check it out!
On a hilltop in Japan’s eastern Shizuoka Prefecture (115 miles from the capital of Tokyo and home to Mount Fuji) sits what looks like a fairytale village. It is however just one private retirement home made from a cluster of five hilltop teepees. And it’s as dreamy as it sounds. (For a tour of the home, click here.)
The home, nicknamed “Jikka” or “parents home” in Japanese, belongs to Nobuko Suma and Sachiko Fujioka, two women in their 60s who decided to build their dream retirement home, “Considering we were like-minded and had worked together in the past, we started talking about how our two families could help each other out and care for the elderly.”1 (Someday, they even hope to open it up to the public.)
And so in 2014, they commissioned Nobuko’s son, Tokyo-based architect Issei Suma, to build them a multi-purpose home so they could live out their days in comfort.
“Construction of Jikka began in 2014. The complex covered 20,451 square feet (1,900 square meters) and cost $535,000. Work was completed the following year.The design took into account their residents’ future: there are no stairs in the property, while the spiral-shaped bath was built with a ramp for wheelchair access.”2
And because the ladies have not yet retired, they run a food delivery service for the elderly, extensive cooking facilities were also included.
Issei says,
“When they approached me about this house and their concept, they told me this was going to be their final abode. They were going to serve the community and live here for the rest of their lives. They told me they did not want anything fancy — nothing embellished, (or) trying to be cool — but something that is down to earth. That to me is un-embellished living.”
The home is so well thought out and blends so naturally into its surroundings that it must instill absolute peace. Maybe I should move there…these hurricane’s are kicking my butt- I could use a breather!
