Shimane Prefectural University has begun efforts to renovate vacant houses into share houses for students in Nishihayashigi-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, around the Izumo Campus.It also aims to contribute to regional revitalization by allowing students to live in vacant houses.
According to Shimane Prefectural University, instructors such as Katsutoshi Watanabe of the Faculty of Nursing and Nutrition, students, and local residents cooperated to start the project in May 2 for vacant wooden two-story houses.
After cleaning up the garbage left in the house, the students took the lead in designing the share house and started the renovation work in October 2021.So far, the wall near the entrance has been demolished to secure a community exchange space, a communal living space, and a private room, and heat insulating materials have been installed on the wall.The construction is scheduled to be completed in February after painting the outer walls. Students will move in from April.
Around the Izumo campus, the vitality of the area is significantly reduced due to the rapid population decline, aging, and the rapid increase in vacant houses.On the other hand, students who entered from areas where it was difficult to go to school at home had to stay in a private apartment and go to school if they failed to select dormitory students.
Therefore, Shimane Prefectural University made a plan to renovate an unoccupied house into a share house for students with the aim of reducing the burden on students and revitalizing the area, and started a joint project with the area.
