When you reach a certain age in life, retirement becomes an unavoidable topic. And when it comes to retirement, there’s a lot to consider – retirement activities, retirement companions and even retirement homes.
When you think about retirement homes, what images pop into your mind?
If you’re like most of us, you might imagine small square rooms, illuminated by a TV humming away in the corner. Not exactly a highly-desirable living environment.
But what if retirement homes could be more desirable? In our golden years, shouldn’t we surround ourselves with a space that offers comfort, luxury, and functionality?
Tokyo architect, Issei Suma, is proving that retirement homes can be all of these things and more by designing these teepee homes that break the mold of traditional retirement homes…
Suma chose Japan’s mountainous Shizuoka Prefecture as the location for his incredible retirement structures that he calls Jikka.
Featuring 100-square-metres of live-work space, Jikka is both aesthetically-pleasing and functional. Surrounded by acres of tranquil nature and natural beauty, can you imagine a more ideal place to retire?
The complex is comprised of five overlapping teepee-like structures, each structure fulfilling a different living requirement. The center hut features an expansive kitchen complete with stainless-steel appliances and a dining area.
Other areas include a shared bedroom, bathroom, and storage space for the residents. Jikka also features a sleeping space with two beds for visiting guests.
One of the most appealing aspects of this stunning retirement complex is the serene spiral-shaped indoor pool that boasts easy wheelchair-access.
Designed for a pair of women in their 60’s, Suma’s gorgeous non-traditional design has allowed these lucky women to retire in spectacular style!
Issei Suma is proving to us that retirement living doesn’t have to be depressing or mundane – in fact, it should be anything but that!
What do you think of Issei Suma’s non-traditional retirement homes? Would you like to live in a place like this? Where do you spend your retired years or where do you hope to be when you retire? Please share in the comments below.