For many residents today, the idea of fitting furniture into a 600 sq ft (56 sq m) condo or apartment has become a compact reality. Now a team from MIT’s architectural program have come up with the CityHome project; a versatile appliance-like solution, designed to increase usable space by two or three times.
The adaptable CityHome project works to help solve the timeless spatial problem of "How do you configure the dining room in your micro-space so guests don’t have to sit at a work station during supper?"
The concept is relatively simple: condense all the necessary amenities, such as the bed, entertainment unit, counters, work space, cooking unit and range, furniture storage, etc. into one transformable wall system. Looking like an intricate Italian kitchen unit, the CityHome project from MIT's Kent Larson and Hasier Larrea not only solves the typical spatial issues associated with tiny condos and apartments, but does so via interactive touch elements, hand gestures, and voice control.
Internal motors connected to command units silently move out units selected by predetermined hand gestures (presumably registered by the control system using built-in cameras), so no physical effort is required. One gesture could, for example, draw the bed out of its space. Another instructs it to return to its original position, and then a work desk can be moved out (which also doubles as a dining table for six).
The team has also applied gestural commands to the lighting system, so that residents can adjust the ambiance in any area of the room as needed, and for control of the window blinds.
Touch sensors on either side of the modular unit control additional motors that can move it across the room a few feet in either direction. The shifting ability allows for users to expand the main living/sleeping/entertaining space, while reducing the size of the bathroom, or vice versa.
From a functional and ergonomic perspective, the bathroom, toilet and shower arrangement clearly needs further consideration. But the concept of providing a versatile living space for those crammed into undersized accommodations definitely has potential.
Larson's group is currently working on a plan to bring the CityHome to production, either through crowdfunding or through a sponsorship arrangement.
To see the CityHome unit in action, check out the video below.
Source: MIT Media
Aloft is one of the only hotel rooms I have been in where I felt like the room was designed by engineers instead of interior decorators. There is a vid someone took of one of the rooms here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qom8wzRRvA
One of the things Aloft does right in their floorplan is they have a mirror door between the sink area and the toilet/shower. This allows the sink area to serve 2 functions without being in the bathroom so someone using the shower doesn't prevent someone else from doing makeup/brushing teeth etc.
Another thing Aloft gets mostly right (for a hotel) is they omit a lot of useless dresser space that often serves as storage space for a single bible that is still done as some kind of 1800's superstition or something and replaces it with room to set and store luggage. I always find it strange when I walk into a hotel room with no place other than the floor or the other bed to set my luggage.
Another cool thing about their design is the little media box you can use to charge electronics (AC, USB etc.) or drive the TV from a laptop or Netflix streamer (useful for people who travel like this http://i.imgur.com/vZKCLLA.jpg ). Even though it's a hotel room it's one of the better small space designs I have seen.
It's not posh but I feel like aside from a flatter TVs most hotel rooms probably haven't really evolved in 50+ years.
I think it could also be used for small houses too. One could build a one room house and put it inside. I have seen (online) some really small houses that this would be perfect for.
The only drawback is the workstation; I'd rather have a design where I don't have clear out my computer, papers, books, etc. just to stop and sip my soylent :-)