VUILD Co-Develops a Sauna Unit Using the Digital Timber-Processing Service “EMARF” with LIFULL, Which Works to Revitalize Vacant Houses

VUILD Inc. has joined a pilot project to revitalize an old vacation home that had been left vacant and increase its real estate value as a vacation rental. The project is taking place in the Nasu area of Tochigi Prefecture, the pilot field of ナスコンバレー*, a living lab launched by LIFULL Co., Ltd., a company working to solve social issues through its business, to promote the co-creation, pilot testing and social implementation of a “21st-century society.”

As the first phase of the project, VUILD developed and installed an assemble-it-yourself sauna unit made with “EMARF,” its digital timber-processing service. The vacation rental with a private sauna has been in operation since October 25, 2022.

□ Booking page: https://www.pure-cottages.jp/plan/366

In this project, LIFULL selects, purchases and renovates vacation homes, adding value with a private sauna to turn them into lodging facilities.

1. Background to the project
There are currently about 380,000 vacation homes* across Japan, many of which have become vacant as their owners age and the buildings deteriorate. Abandoned vacation homes contribute to regional problems such as falling property values and a deteriorating landscape. *Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 2018 Vacant House Survey

Meanwhile, since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been growing demand to spend time in nature and to relax in private spaces, but for many people a “vacation home” has a strong image as an out-of-reach luxury, so opportunities to own or use one are limited.

And although second-hand vacation homes are more affordable than new ones, most are over 30 years old, and they came with “hassles” such as layouts and equipment that do not meet today’s needs, or deterioration that requires renovation.

2. Features of the sauna unit
In this first phase of the project, an assemble-it-yourself sauna unit was installed on a wooden deck added to the existing building, connecting the living room with the outdoors through the sauna and creating an experience that lets guests feel closer to nature.

The sauna unit has three main features. Starting with this prototype, we aim to commercialize it and make a “one-of-a-kind sauna” possible anywhere, in any form.

*Process movie : https://youtu.be/0YfXCgMuEd4

2-1. Customization

Using “ShopBot,” the 3D wood-processing machine VUILD has installed across Japan, even complex curved shapes can be cut out exactly as in the design data, so a freehand curve appears directly as the cross-section of the sauna.

2-2. Insulation
Insulation is built into the units in advance to achieve high thermal performance. In addition, by pre-assembling the components into units that are put together on site, on-site work is kept to a minimum, making the units easy to transport and install.

2-3. Local production for local consumption

The sauna unit is made of cedar from Tochigi Prefecture. By processing local timber locally, we keep CO2 emissions during construction to an absolute minimum. Since its founding in 2017, VUILD has installed the 3D wood-processing machine “ShopBot” in regions across Japan rich in forest resources. ShopBot is now installed in more than 100 locations, creating an environment where timber can be processed digitally in any region as long as there is data. Using this autonomous, distributed production network, we will promote the local use of local timber. In this project as well, locally produced cedar boards were used for the interior and exterior.

2-4. Interior space
In this prototype, the heights of the left and right benches vary to follow the organic curves of the structure, so guests can experience different temperatures. Line lighting built into the back of the benches softly illuminates the interior.

2-5. Exterior space
The exterior facade is fitted with custom-made shelves, towel rails, a round window and an outdoor light, and buyers will be able to customize their positions and sizes.

■ Inquiries about the sauna unit
VUILD Inc.
Email: info@vuild.co.jp

□ Company profiles
[LIFULL Co., Ltd.] Operator of the vacation rental value-up pilot project
Representative: Takashi Inoue (President and CEO)
Established: March 12, 1997
Head office: 1-4-4 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Overview: With the corporate message “Make every LIFE FULL,” LIFULL is a social enterprise that aims to solve, through its business, the social issues that stand in the way of peace of mind and happiness, from the challenges individuals face to the challenges of society beyond them.
The group currently provides services in 63 countries around the world. Starting with its flagship real estate and housing information site “LIFULL HOME’S,” it has expanded into a wide range of fields, including “LIFULL Regional Revitalization,” centered on revitalizing vacant houses, and “LIFULL Kaigo,” which supports the lives of seniors, aiming to realize a society where the life of every person in the world is filled with peace of mind and happiness.
URL: https://lifull.com/

[VUILD Inc.] Planning, design and construction of the sauna unit
Representative: Koki Akiyoshi (President and CEO)
Established: November 21, 2017
Head office: unico 1F-A, 3-4 Nisshincho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Overview: VUILD Inc. (hereafter VUILD) works to create an environment in which anyone can engage in making things without specialist expertise and anyone can become a carpenter or an architect, through four businesses: (1) the “ShopBot Support Business,” which imports, sells and supports the 3D wood-processing machine “ShopBot”; (2) the “EMARF Business,” which operates “EMARF,” a web application for producing custom furniture locally on demand; (3) the “VUILD ARCHITECTS Business,” which provides architectural design; and (4) the “NESTING Business,” a digital home-building application service.
Website: https://vuild.co.jp/
EMARF: https://emarf.co/
EMARF for Business: https://biz.emarf.co/