Are vacant houses a treasure trove of 'possibilities' rather than 'problems'? Researchers discuss the causes of the increase in vacant houses and how to utilize them as commons.

AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kenji Kawada) has published an expert interview on its media platform, 'Wake-ari Bukken Kaitori Navi,' regarding the vacant house issue and the potential for utilizing them as commons. In recent years, the increase in vacant houses has become a serious social issue in Japan. On the other hand, vacant houses are not just 'negative assets' but also hold potential as resources to create new value and communities in the region. In this interview, we spoke with Jun Matsumura, a researcher specializing in 'architectural sociology' with practical experience in architecture, about the essence of the vacant house issue and the state of housing and local communities in modern society. The article introduces the perspective of utilizing vacant houses as 'margins' or 'places for challenges' rather than just viewing them as a real estate problem. AlbaLink will continue to contribute to solving social issues in the real estate sector by disseminating expert knowledge and contributing to problem-solving from both practical and media perspectives.