Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Culture

Robotic Furniture is the Future of Living Small in Big Cities

By

As the housing shortage increases in urban areas, more and more people are downsizing. From micro-apartments in Seattle to the explosion of the tiny house market, getting creative with less space isn’t just a trend, it’s becoming a necessity. Enter Ori, an entire apartment’s worth of furniture in one big robot.

Developed in conjunction with the MIT media lab, Ori was designed by Yves Behar and his company Fuseproject. The name Ori is a hint as to just what this system is. Derived from the word “origami,” the Ori system can be transformed to suit the needs of the user. It is a bedroom, closet, office, living room, and storage space all in one. Simply plug it into a standard electrical outlet and you’re ready to transform your small studio into a multitude of different rooms.

Recommended Videos

Powered by modular robotics, the entire system glides along a track, revealing the hidden components as it moves back and forth. Easy to use buttons let you select which mode you need. Bed mode reveals a trundle bed, storage shelves, and closet. Lounge mode tucks away the bed, opening up the space to allow for TV-watching and entertaining; there is even a slide-out shelf that can be used as a desk and office space. Wardrobe mode allows you to access the closet and all of the built-in storage areas.

Ori - One Room. A Hundred Ways.

The Ori system is available in full or queen sizes (referring to the size of bed that comes with it). Each option offers abundant storage, with the queen system providing extra shelving and a larger desk. Ori arrives flatpacked and is assembled on site, making installation a breeze. Don’t worry about your electric bill skyrocketing as you move Ori throughout the day. The system uses about one tenth the power of a hair dryer.

Taking the futuristic concept of robotic furniture a step further, Ori can be controlled with Amazon Echo or Google Assistant, allowing you to simply tell the system which mode to be in. And what happens to your electric powered robot furniture should the power goes out? Ori will automatically switch to manual mode, allowing you to move the unit back and forth by pulling or pushing it.

Currently, Ori is only available in select cities in the United States and Canada for large-scale developers, but the company is working hard to expand. It’s a system that’s sure to be in high demand as urban populations continue to grow while housing options dwindle.

Kelsey Machado
Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
The best shows to binge on Peacock in April
Lots of NBC hits are on Peacock now — here are the best shows to watch
Gabriel Macht wearing a light gray suit

There are definitely too many streaming services. Thanks to Netflix's revolution, every broadcast network and parent company decided that they had to get in on the streaming wars. Peacock TV is NBC Universal's streaming service, and although it may not seem like the most attractive option, there are actually a number of great Peacock movies and shows available on the service that are hard to find anywhere else.
Some of those popular shows are Peacock streaming originals, although there are plenty that initially aired on NBC or elsewhere and have found their way to Peacock thanks in part to the complicated nature of TV rights. Regardless, though, Peacock speaks to the impressive legacy of NBC Television. Growing up, I watched many of these shows as part of my regular nighttime routine. Now, thankfully, they're available at our fingertips anytime. Looking for more streaming options? We also have your guide to the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, and the best shows on Paramount+.

Suits (2011)

Read more
April favorites: The best shows to watch on Starz
From Outlander to Party Down, these are the best shows you can stream on Starz
Outlanders

Since its inception, Starz has proven it can hang with larger competitors like Max. Although it's now making television in an incredibly crowded landscape, Starz has managed to regularly launch shows that make an impact, and it speaks to the enduring quality of these shows that they've also stood the test of time.
Because the streaming service is relatively niche, it can be hard to feel like it's worth the investment. I know from personal experience that, once you take the plunge and check out a few series on Starz, though, you'll realize just how deep the well of great stuff is. Any one of these shows would justify the price of a subscription.

Party Down (2009)

Read more
Must-see films: The best movies on Peacock this April
Peacock is a TV service, but it also has a great catalog of movies to stream, too
Jack Black in Bernie.

A fun bit of historic TV trivia is that the original NBC peacock logo was first implemented in 1956 to highlight the network's new color programming. Even though the logo has gone through numerous iterations since then, the network has stuck with the colorful bird, in one form or another, for going on six decades now. It’s fitting, then, that Peacock is known most for its TV programming, highlighted by shows like The Office, Parks and Rec, and the self-mocking (and hilarious) 30 Rock. If you are on Peacock for the shows, however, don't overlook that the platform is also home to a number of great movies spanning cinema history, including everything from great comedy to excellent sports movies.

Below, I've picked out some of the best movies available on the service. I was surprised to see just how many greats there are to choose from, and I'm confident that whatever you like to watch, you'll find something good below.

Read more