Like their western cousins IKEA, much-loved Japanese home furnishings store MUJI is expanding into prefab home design.

Back in 2009, the store commissioned the venerable Kengo Kuma to design two prefabricated homes, which could be customized, purchased, and assembled on site. Kuma’s elegant (and earthquake-proof) designs were made from an affordable industrialized kit-of-parts, meaning they had the potential to be marketed towards a larger audience.

It seems that MUJI has plans to do just that. Spoon & Tamago reports that the brand is holding a contest that offers one lucky winner the chance to live in Kuma’s Tree House (fully furnished with MUJI products) for two years – rent free. Read on.

What’s the catch? The winner of the online contest will provide MUJI with valuable consumer information, answering questions and providing commentary on the design of the home and products. In essence, they’ll be acting as a living, breathing test subject for MUJI’s planned expansion.

Whether or not you’re willing to sacrifice your privacy to surround yourself with awesome design (and, let’s be real, free design) is up to you. But while MUJI fans of all nationalities are welcome to reply, keep in mind the contest’s other caveat: all surveys will be conducted in Japanese. Drats!

[via Spoon & Tamago]

by Architizer Editors

posted in Product

tagged contest, japan, kengo kuma, muji, prefab, product

more articles by Architizer Editors