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Monday 5 September 2022

Expandable apartment systems are the latest twist on tiny homes as people look for affordable homes — take a look inside

An expandable apartment featuring a bed that lifts up and down. — The Cloud Bed ranges from $8,000 to $11,000.
Ori

A company based in New York is creating expandable furniture for apartments, costing up to $11,000.
Robotic-furniture company Ori says people want technology that lets them to live without compromise.
Its founder, Hasier Larrea, said high property prices make its products more appealing.

Ori, a robotic-furniture company based in New York and Boston, is building expandable apartments amid house prices increasing, designed to give more space in small homes.

The company offers four types of expandable apartment designs, including the pocket closet, pocket office, pocket studio, and cloud bed. Prices range from $5,000 to $11,000.

Ori's founder Hasier Larrea told Insider: "America's growing housing unaffordability has become all the more acute. Generations of households are being priced out of the homes they want in a way we've not seen before. As a result, people are looking for new solutions, including spatial technology."

A picture of doc in front of the pocket studio. — Ori

"Unlike before, spatial technology can actually affect all three dimensions around you: walls move, and rooms appear and disappear on command, opening new possibilities for the way you live," Larrea added.

A man is working on a table which is part of the pocket studio. — Ori

Ori's CEO said expandable apartments are long overdue. "Real estate is one of the oldest industries in the world, and it's hard to change the way things have always been done. Transformable spaces are not new, but they've been outdated and bespoke for far too long," he added.

People have been increasingly turning to tiny homes amid a surge in home prices. Tiny homes allow those who can't necessarily afford a traditional home to get on the property ladder.

A black tiny home next to a hot tub. The units are surrounded by lush trees and grass. — A Moliving unit.
David Mitchell

In 2020, more than half of those who responded to a survey by Fidelity National Financial said they would consider living in a tiny home.

A New Frontier tiny home sits in a clearing. — A New Frontier tiny home designed by David Latimer.
Studio Bull/New Frontier Design

Take a look at variations of Ori's expandable apartments.

Ori's pocket studio has a pull-out table, a pull-out bed, a closet, and includes an entertainment space.

A man is standing next to the pocket studio. — Ori

This built-in system is particularly handy for those who work remotely and want to be able to put away their desk once they log off.

The pocket office, however, gives you a separate space, allowing for a division between work and relaxation.

A woman appears to be working while the other side of the furniture, a man is reading a newspaper on the sofa. — Ori

Larrea said: "Unlike before, spatial technology can actually affect all three dimensions around you: walls move, and rooms appear and disappear on command, opening new possibilities for the way you live."

"People are realizing they don't want technology just to make their home 'smart.' They want technology that enables them to live without compromise — where they want, with the space they want," he added.

The view of a TV in an expandable apartment. — Ori

Whether you're looking to make your living environment more efficient or simply want to live somewhere that your space is fully utilized, Ori's cloud bed could be the answer. Its price ranges between $8,000 and $11,000, and moves up and down to either create a bedroom or a living area.

"Today, trends in urbanization, consumption, and housing tenure are making tech-friendly apartments not only more feasible but also more appealing," said Ori's founder.