In the impression of many people, villas are inhabited by wealthy people, while ordinary salaried people live in apartments.
However, in Japan, wealthy people prefer to live in apartments, and single family apartments are reserved for ordinary people.
As a small country in Japan, urban planning is truly unique in East Asia. There are fewer towering and densely packed unit buildings in the city, and more are single family buildings. Why is this pattern formed? This is related to the urban development in Japan after World War II.
Before World War II, Japanese residents lived in traditional houses with tatami mats placed on the floor, and the family sat on the floor to eat and receive guests.
After World War II, when the government rebuilt houses, it advocated for "modern family houses", and these types of houses were mostly "one household building" with 2-3 floors, meaning that each household lived in an independent building.
There were many reasons why residents liked single houses at that time, including having courtyards and being close to the soil; Life is more free, psychologically stable, and feels more at home;
More suitable for the elderly and children; It is possible to freely layout the residential style and has certain added value.
Among them, a more free life and psychological stability are the primary factors that residents tend to live alone.
At that time, most working-class people longed to live in a single family, and the ultimate goal of their work and struggle was to move into a spacious single family residence. Regardless of the type of house they had previously lived in, they ultimately had to move into a multi story single family with a courtyard.
Single family apartments have unparalleled advantages over residential apartments.
Firstly, standalone apartments are more spacious than apartments, and there is more privacy between neighbors and each family member. Secondly, a standalone house with a courtyard facilitates the mobility of the elderly and children. The most important point is that Japan is prone to earthquakes, making it easier for single houses to escape during earthquakes.
Expansion of apartment buildings
Although residents generally prefer single family apartments, with the development of society and economy, more and more people are choosing apartment houses. A survey conducted in 1990 showed that more people began to consider the economy and convenience of housing compared to the benefits of single living.
Many people are unwilling to endure prolonged commuting in the suburbs and instead purchase apartments. Compared to standalone apartments, apartments also have many advantages. The surrounding facilities of the apartment are more complete, and the spaciousness of high-end apartments is not inferior to that of standalone apartments. In addition, they also have modern property protection.
In terms of price, except for some high-end apartments, the price of ordinary apartments is lower than that of single family apartments. In addition, various loan policies have led to many families transitioning to buying an apartment before purchasing a single family apartment.
The changes in population structure and lifestyle are also a major factor in changing residents' housing preferences. After World War II, Japanese society was generally dominated by nuclear families, with single family homes being the mainstream. A small number of single individuals and childless couples chose apartments.
As Japan's population continues to age and the number of singles increases, apartments are becoming increasingly popular. From 1980 to 2010, the proportion of single families in society increased from 15.4% to 32.4%, and the proportion of families composed of couples and children decreased from 44.2% to 27.9%
However, for many Japanese people today, living alone is still their ideal place of residence.
The transformation of residential forms in Japan is not only the result of multiple factors such as market, population structure, and social structure, but also a reflection of people's continuous pursuit of quality of life.
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