Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Room-In-a-Room Expands to Increase Space in Tiny Apartments

Posted: 27 May 2014 08:00 AM PDT

aparment expands to increase space

Apartment rental prices in large cities (and even in some smaller ones) are climbing rapidly into the “not at all possible” range. Many people are living in spaces which previously would have been considered way too small. MIT’s Media Lab’s Changing Places group has invented a completely ingenious way to make a minuscule 200 square foot apartment into a palace by comparison.

expanding tiny apartment

The group’s CityHome is a sort of room within a room; it is essentially a box that fits inside an apartment and contains everything you need to make your apartment comfortable. It is controlled via a series of gestures, voice commands, and touches which extend and retract different elements of the cube. Turn the tiny closet-sized structure into a comfy bedroom by gesturing for the bed to roll out. Put the bed away and pull out a long table that can seat six.

Other features include an extending kitchen counter and a large work desk. When you’re having company over and want to create a certain atmosphere, special apps can program colored light shows that would be the perfect atmosphere for a party. And although it’s tiny, the CityHome contains enough storage to keep all of your stuff organized – provided you don’t have too much stuff.

mit cityhome

Maybe the most interesting part of the CityHome is its ability to slide as a complete unit. It moves a few feet in one direction to double the size of your bathroom, then moves back the other way to increase the size of the living area. With rental prices approaching $1,000 per square foot in some cities, the CityHome could be the answer for young professionals or students who want to live comfortably, but without feeling like they are stuffed into a shoe box.

Suspended Picnic Table Facilitates Friendly Conversation

Posted: 26 May 2014 06:00 PM PDT

shared folding picnic table

When you really want to have an outdoor meal with a friend but can’t find a suitable place to sit down and put your dishes while you eat, the Napkin Table is a perfectly odd alternative. Designed by graduates from the Tunghai University in Taiwan, the Napkin Table is a portable picnic table just for two.

pockets in napkin table

surface napkin table

Consisting of a folding plastic surface and two fabric straps, the Napkin Table attaches to both diners’ necks while the folding table is suspended between the two. This arrangement requires that the diners sit close together and look at each other as they eat, encouraging conversation and connection between the two.

cutlery pocket napkin table

attached napkin

Special pockets in the table hold cups and others hold cutlery. Attached napkins also allow diners to wipe their mouths as they eat, remaining polite throughout the meal.

folding up napkin table

folded napkin table

Once the shared picnic is over, the Napkin Table easily folds up and can be stored in a small space. The designers hope that their design will help friends get to know each other better while they talk and socialize over a shared meal.

Transforming Desk is Combined Workspace and Napping Mat

Posted: 26 May 2014 02:00 PM PDT

relaxing study work space

It’s the lucky worker who gets to take a nap while at work, but those of us who work at home can (in theory) take a break whenever we like. This desk, called Deep Attention and Sleep, works both for working hard and for hardly working.

sleep configuration

The arch-shaped desk is backed by a tall orange foam board. When you get sleepy from working or studying, you can remove the board and move it to the floor for a makeshift naptime mat.

deep attention and sleep

For working on the floor or maybe eating a snack, the desk surface detaches to become a handy little tray. The unusual transforming furniture was designed by Matali Crasset for furniture makers Campeggi.

relaxation mode

Putting it all back together creates a cocoon-like space to block out the world around you. Place the open back against a wall and the orange board blocks out everything around you, leaving you free to get your important things done without distraction.

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