by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.10.08
Like its namesake, there's more to the Matroshka (meaning "grandmother" in Russian; also used to describe those fun dolls that fit into each other) compact living system than meets the eye. Containing an L-shaped sofa, double bed, dinner table, four stools, total seating for 12, home office workspace, wardrobe and a bunch of storage, Matroshka is a compact living space's dream come true; in its most compact form, it takes up just about 13 43 square feet (4 square meters).
It might not be quite as dramatic as Casulo -- the amazing concept that fits an armoire, a desk, a height-adjustable stool, two more stools, a six-shelf bookcase, and a bed with a mattress into a box -- but its arguably more flexible; you could furnish a studio or one-bedroom apartment with little else, and even host a good-sized dinner party. Hop below the fold for more info and to see Matroshka's neat tricks. ::Matroshka via ::NotCot.org
First unveiled at the Stockholm Furniture Fair last month, Matroshka was born from a project in a course on creative thinking at Mid Sweden University last May. In an attempt to find new solutions for people living in small spaces, the four industrial design students considered how to best create space, storage and sociality.
By thinking of the room in terms of volume rather than just square footage, they were able to get lots of utility from just a few objects and even less space; every bit of empty space was considered, and almost all of it serves at least one purpose. It's quite remarkable to think you could (cozily) entertain up to 12 people in such a compact space, and it's a great example of how less can really be more. They're currently looking for ways to turn Matroshka from dream to reality; for now, you can see it on display at Paizano Design in Sundsvall, Sweden.
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