Micro apartment design shape-shifts to maximize space

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.

Alan Tansey

Alan Tansey

Alan Tansey