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Micro apartment design shape-shifts to maximize space

A new concept for the growing micro-living movement

Photo of modern furniture in display room arrangement Alan Tansey

As urban populations continue to grow, experiments in small-space living have proliferated, ranging from mobile tiny houses to parasitic housing additions to robotic, shape-shifting furniture that optimizes square footage.

In a decidedly stylish take on the genre, experienced micro apartment designer Michael K. Chen Architecture (MKCA) worked with furniture and lighting company Häfele on a new micro-living concept that further leans into convertible furniture as a space-saving solution. Recently unveiled at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, the living room arrangement centers around a set of furniture that folds, shifts, slides, and hides.

The micro apartment includes a sofa that turns into a bed, a concealed TV that rises from its nook via a motor, and a console that expands into a dining table for six. A closet with hinged hangers folds outward to make clothes more accessible.

The arrangement is impressively compact—it measures just 192 square feet and also includes a small kitchen with integrated appliances and a wall that expands to increase counter space. There’s also a hidden motorized bar because even people who live in tiny homes want to entertain. The firm says the apartment is meant to connect to a separate bathroom and can be customized to include additional appliances like a full-sized refrigerator (the unit includes a mini-refrigerator).

The project is just a prototype at the moment, but we’re all for envisioning clever hacks for urban living.

Modern furniture in display setting Alan Tansey
Close up of bedspread Alan Tansey
Silverware drawer filled with utensils Alan Tansey