How to Live in Increasingly Densely Populated Cities

Car manufacturers increasingly prefer to be called lifestyle brands these days. However, the extent to which they actually engage in this varies considerably by manufacturer.

MINI, in particular, is quite bold. Under the banner of MINI LIVING, they are pushing into the realm of housing.

At "Milan Design Week 2018," they also presented a large-scale installation titled "MINI LIVING-BUILT BY ALL."

In the Tortona district, they showcased a proposal for space sharing using a warehouse, in a distinctly MINI way.

At the 2017 Milan Design Week, MINI proposed "Breathe," a compact, vertically-oriented shared house for narrow lots.

The theme for 2018, "How to Live in Increasingly Densely Populated Cities," is more focused and realistic.

Experience Over Ownership

To this end, MINI's installation (an exhibition using space) demonstrated how four people could live in a warehouse-like structure, presenting concrete design proposals.

"We wanted people to be able to live in cities, but we thought it would be better to live in attractive buildings where good relationships can be built among residents,"

says OKE HAUSER of MINI, who leads MINI LIVING.

"Young people are increasingly prioritizing experience over ownership. We believe this is also true for housing."

These are the words of NINA TOLSTRUP of the London-based architectural firm Studiomama, who collaborated on this project as Hauser's partner.

An Answer to Our Most Primal Desires

The "warehouse" space for four residents was color-coded by function. Each resident was assigned a different color.

Additionally, the shared kitchen was a moss green, and the communal space and dining table were sky blue.

"We want to provide a sustainable and enjoyable future." Tolstrup's words will likely resonate strongly with younger generations accustomed to car-sharing and other shared cultures.

Milan Design Week featured many installations showcasing new technologies and beautiful aesthetics. The message that technology brings the future was visible throughout the city of Milan.

Amidst this, MINI presented a vision of the "future" with a simple yet powerful concept. As an answer to the most primal human desire to live comfortably in a desired location, its appeal is strong.

The Key is Efficient Space Utilization

Visitors to the venue were first guided to a space that felt more like a playground than a workshop.

Here, strangers stood side-by-side, enjoying stacking spheres and cubes of various colors and sizes, like a three-dimensional puzzle.

Afterward, stepping into the sample shared living space introduced earlier, one could notice the connection between the three-dimensional puzzle artworks, created by stacking objects vertically, and the personal spaces that extended upwards while minimizing floor area.

This ingenious approach, through play, allows MINI's message—that the key is to effectively utilize space (including vertically)—to easily sink in.

This space is called the "Factory of Ideas," where architects also offer advice on how to fill the space.

Placing People at the Center of the Design Process as Active Creators

"In the current standardized housing market, individual needs are only reflected to a limited extent."

Hauser further stated, "With 'MINI LIVING-BUILT BY ALL,' we place people at the center of the design process as active creators."

MINI will soon utilize a former factory on an 8,000-square-meter site in Shanghai to develop "innovative spatial concepts for living, life, and work."

While MINI has long positioned compactness as a selling point, they have also been relentlessly pursuing efficient space utilization, known as packaging. This proposal for living spaces resonates with that core principle. How it will evolve is truly fascinating.