Micro apartment

Sim-Plex has created a stunning micro-home inspired by Japanese culture called the U. Izakaya House, which boasts clever space-saving storage elements and features a U-shaped kitchen inspired by a traditional Japanese izakaya restaurant at its heart.

A 27.5-sq-m apartment has been transformed into a full-featured living space, with the room divided into a spacious lounge and multi-purpose wooden unit that includes a hidden kitchen, pull-down double bed, pull-out closet and ample storage space.

Originally designed by French architect Charlotte Perriand in the 1960s, Coudamy Architectures sought to preserve the retro interior design, while enhancing the 19-sq-m (205-sq-ft) apartment with some fresh space-saving upgrades.

Malessa Studio has revealed its foldable and compact furniture collection, especially designed for students and renters who frequently move homes. Nest features everyday furniture pieces that can be dismantled, packed, moved and re-assembled.

Architect Doug Burdge and builder Nate Garnero have come together to create a striking tiny dwelling made from repurposed shipping containers. Designed as an up-market guest house, Buhaus is packed with high-end finishings and attention to detail.

Sim-Plex has recently converted an open two-bedroom apartment into a smart, space-saving family home. The Smart Zendo apartment boasts smart technology, multi-purpose zones and draws on the traditional Chinese philosophies of Zen and Feng Shui.

London based architectural studio Suprblk has transformed an apartment inside an old biscuit factory by incorporating bespoke pods instead of walls. The space-saving design means the occupants can now enjoy an additional 20 sq m of living space.

The DMC Apartment boasts a light-filled, flowing interior that capitalizes on every inch of the home. To achieve this, the architects came up with an interior floorplan that eliminated many of the home’s hard angles to maximize the floorspace and squeeze all the desired attributes into the home.

IKEA has revealed its innovative Rognan robotic furniture, designed to minimize the compromises of small space living. Developed in collaboration with Ori, a Boston-based furniture start-up, the robotic furniture is set to first roll-out in Hong Kong and Japan next year.

Anna and Eugeni Bach Architects recently turned its hand to transforming an old single bedroom apartment in Valencia, Spain. Dubbed Cabinet Studio Apartment, the 77-sq m (829-sq ft) home boasts interior furnishings and design elements that play with the eye to create the illusion of extra space.

​Japanese home and lifestyle brand Muji has recently opened its third hotel, located in the center of Tokyo's upmarket shopping district of Ginza. The impressive MUJI Hotel Ginza spans six floors and features 79 rooms that boast stunning tiny living interior designs.

Mini has recently started turning its eye for space-saving design to the dilemma of ever-crowded urban centers. Its latest exploration in this area comes in the form of a flexible conceptual micro-apartment built for bustling Beijing, with pointed cues to the traditional architecture of the city.