The transformer apartment is filled with incredibly detailed design and is in some respects a jigsaw puzzle. The density of moving parts and complexity caused by the need to transform meant that everything is built to 3mm tolerances and that small design changes could lead to a cascade of other changes around the apartment.
Living Space
Day to day, the transformer apartment is kept fully open to maximise the sense of spaciousness.
When the bathroom is in use, frosted panels slide over from two directions to create a private space.
Often when the bedroom is closed, the cats will use the ladder as a shortcut to the other side of the apartment.
Day to day, the transformer apartment is kept fully open to maximise the sense of spaciousness.
Kitchen
The kitchen counter of the small home, smart home is 5m long, larger than kitchens in many much larger homes. This space means there is extensive counter top space as well as plenty of storage.
As the kitchen counter is right up against the largest windows in the transformer apartment, standard kitchen cupboards could not be used since they would block out too much light. Instead, motorized cabinets descend at the push of a button. The lower shelf of each cabinet is accessible without lowering the cabinets, hidden behind a flip up white panel.
In normal use, the sink pulls up to the height of a regular sink while the panel used to close it flips over to become a large chopping board.
The kitchen counter of the small home, smart home is 5m long, larger than kitchens in many much larger homes. This space means there is extensive counter top space as well as plenty of storage.
Storage
Raising the floor provided space storage, accessible through two large mechanically lifted panels.
In addition to the main storage panels a dedicated shoe storage space, with dedicated lighting, separates the entryway from the home.
As there are windows on all three sides of the apartment, some compromises had to be made. The storage cupboard on the left was created by blocking a portion of the window. The one on the right is accessible by a sliding door and is placed over wall.
Raising the floor provided space storage, accessible through two large mechanically lifted panels.
Cat Features
From the top of the cat ladder, the cats can jump onto the ceiling walkways that take them all the way around the apartment from the ladder to the bedroom.
The ceiling walkways are often used by multiple cats simultaneously. When guests are present, the shyer of the cats prefer to sit there and observe their surroundings while staying away from people.
Like litter boxes, feeding trays are usually an inescapable part of pet ownership. These integrated food trays however, can disappear when not in use.
From the top of the cat ladder, the cats can jump onto the ceiling walkways that take them all the way around the apartment from the ladder to the bedroom.
Entertaining
The couch splits into two segments, allowing one half to cover the bath and create a 2nd tier of seating. This can be used for home cinema viewing, or even as short-term guest accommodation.
A 55" LG screen, larger than would otherwise be feasible in the space, is mounted to a moving panel that slides out of sight when not in use. Beneath it is a Philips soundbar with wireless surrounds for an easy transition into surround sound viewing.
Folding chairs pull out of storage easily for sit down dinners of up to six people.
The couch splits into two segments, allowing one half to cover the bath and create a 2nd tier of seating. This can be used for home cinema viewing, or even as short-term guest accommodation.
Bathroom/Restroom
Space usage was kept to an absolute minimum with the restroom. Frosted panels on the right can be moved to open up access to the shower/bath, or to provide one half of the bathroom "door". Mirrored cabinets store bathroom supplies and under the generously sized sink is additional storage and the cat litter box.
The bathroom can be used independently of the restroom by closing off the panel to the left, or together with the restroom to create a comfortably sized L-shaped space. It is sealed off from the living area when in use by an automated curtain.
Since the bath tub area is multi-purpose, it was not possible to have a typical protruding tap. A relatively rare spring style tap was used instead.
Space usage was kept to an absolute minimum with the restroom. Frosted panels on the right can be moved to open up access to the shower/bath, or to provide one half of the bathroom "door". Mirrored cabinets store bathroom supplies and under the generously sized sink is additional storage and the cat litter box.