Changing Society while Reconsidering the Nature of the Family

New Domesticity, a groundbreaking project led by researcher and designer Xidian Wang, has recently been honored with the prestigious AZ Award 2024 in the category of Social Good. The project is a shared-house for single mother families, which also received the Azure A+ Award of Merit for Student Work.

Photo credit: Xidian Wang

Photo credit: Xidian Wang

In response to the growing socio-economic challenges faced by low-income single mothers in Japan, New Domesticity redefines shared living arrangements in Tokyo, focusing on underutilized urban spaces to create communal homes where single mothers can cohabit and operate small businesses, fostering economic stability and social support.

Photo credit: Xidian Wang

More Than a Shared Kitchen

Japan's single mothers face significant hardships, with nearly 50% of them struggling to make ends meet. "New Domesticity" tackles this issue by introducing a shared living model that redefines urban housing. The project envisions co-managed spaces where single mothers can share domestic and childcare duties, living environments, and small businesses together, creating a supportive community that reduces financial strain and social isolation.

Photo credit: Xidian Wang

"The greatest significance of sharing lies not in shared spaces or facilities, but in shared responsibility," Wang emphasizes. This philosophy is the cornerstone of New Domesticity, which aims to empower single mothers to take control of their lives and build resilient, interconnected communities.

Photo credit: Xidian Wang

Reclaiming Tokyo’s Urban Spaces

Wang's design approach involves repurposing Tokyo's underutilized spaces, such as abandoned houses, empty spaces between buildings, and underused parts of public buildings, and turning them into vibrant, multi-functional hubs for single mothers. These hubs are primarily co-living spaces combined with co-working spaces/local business spaces. These designs blur the boundaries between private and public life, integrating single mothers more fully into the urban fabric.

Photo credit: Xidian Wang

Challenging Traditional Family Structures

New Domesticity also challenges Japan's cultural norms, particularly the idealization of the nuclear family. In a society where single mothers often face stigma and marginalization, this project offers a new vision of domestic life that is inclusive, adaptable, and supportive of diverse family structures. By reimagining what a family can be, and how urban spaces can serve these families, this project prompts broader societal change.

Photo credit: Xidian Wang

Photo credit: Xidian Wang

Collaborative Approach and the "Suitcase"

New Domesticity is a collaborative effort that brings together various stakeholders, including the single mothers who will live in these spaces, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local government officials. By involving the end-users in the design and construction process, the project fosters a sense of community and ensures that the living spaces meet the actual needs of the residents. Alongside the design work, the project also includes a suitcase for Mom's Co-op members to carry to pitch the project, and a project website to communicate with a larger audience, aiming to engage more single mothers and garner support from others.

Photo credit: Xidian Wang

A Prototype for Sustainable Urban Living

Beyond addressing immediate housing needs, New Domesticity offers a blueprint for sustainable urban development that can be replicated in other cities facing similar challenges. The project’s emphasis on shared living, community participation, and sustainable materials makes it a model of innovative, socially responsible design. It demonstrates how urban spaces, while promoting environmental sustainability, can be reimagined to serve the needs of marginalized communities.

Xidian Wang

Xidian Wang is a designer and researcher based in Cambridge and London. Her projects focus on feminist architectural design, minority representation, and spatial justice. She has a keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches and media.