Third-grade teacher Eric Schneider bought a 450-square-foot studio on 73rd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues in 2005 for $235,000. But soon he began to feel a little, shall we say, cramped. So he asked a couple of architects, Michael Chen and Kari Anderson of Normal Projects, to show him how to expand the space. The solution they came up with, as detailed in the video below made by FairCompanies.com, was to basically pack four rooms worth of furniture into one using a huge blue cabinet-type structure that folds this way and that depending on how Schneider wants to use the space.
Call it the origami apartment.
You can see Schneider folding his bed down in the picture above. He also has a foldable desk that doubles as a bar or food counter when the bed is folded back against the wall. Outlets and fixtures are squeezed into nooks inside the cabinet. Sliding doors hide the “daytime” stuff from the “nighttime” stuff. Of course, if he comes home drunk he probably just passes out on the floor.
For $235,000, you can also get a 2,800-square-foot four-bedroom house in Florida with a heated inground pool and waterfall spa, walk-in closets in every bedroom, a fireplace, and an outdoor wet bar. But who wants that? I mean, you could get lost in a place like that.
Love it!! I suddenly want to start making choices, too!
I love this place.
This is amazing! Certainly a great way to create some space in an Upper West Side apartment rental! It may not be practical for everyone, of course, but everyone could definitely take a tip or two from Eric for making the most of your space!