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| The client came up with the idea of a Murphy bed that could fold out of the way when not in use. The designers then had to figure out how to transform the sleeping space into a living space. They didn't want to have to see the bottom of the bed in the way that many Murphy beds are styled, so they created a giant pivoting door. The door hides the bed when it's not in use, and becomes a partition between sleeping and living areas when the bed is out. Private Comment
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| Since the client also wanted a nightstand, closet space and shelves for books, the cabinet idea quickly grew in size and function. This wall was the only spot that made sense for the bed's giant multi-functional cabinet. Luckily, this wall was also an unfortunate looking wall with an awkward column, so the cabinet hides all of that. The nightstand, embedded into the cork surface of the bed's compartment, takes advantage of leftover wall space next to the column. Private Comment
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| The pivoting door not only divides the sleeping and living spaces, but a drop-down flap also doubles as a desk or bar. Private Comment
The entire unit is made out of a combination of hardware from several different companies, including some designed by Normal Projects. Customizing this piece was not only necessary because of its size and functions, but also to ensure that the motion of the cabinet was just right. "That process involved a lot of precise digital modeling to keep track of the slides and the rotations of hinges and pivots," says Chen. |
| The house is now divided into slightly overlapping zones. The kitchen is at the front of the apartment, the sleeping area in the middle. A dining area appears when the bed is folded up, a work area is revealed when the door pivots open, and the living room can be public or more private due to the pivoting door. Private Comment
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| When it's all closed up, the cabinet becomes a seamless extension of the home's structure, leaving plenty of room for a dining table or other entertaining necessities. Private Comment
Another main issue for Normal Projects was lighting the apartment well without large visible fixtures. Their solution was a series of fluorescent strips running along the top of the cabinet. The strips reflect light off of the ceiling, resulting in a soft light that brightens the entire room. |
| The cabinet's bright blue adds a different dimension to the room. "We wanted something cheerful and interesting, and we were certain that white or gray would be too boring," says Chen. Private Comment
"We found that a deeply saturated color did very interesting things in the room, because the apartment has good natural light. The blue really changes hues quite a lot over the course of the day. Sometimes it's extremely bright, and other times, it goes extremely muted and dense." |
| A tiny Viking range was installed at the end of the space. Two under-counter units take the place of a full-size fridge. The end of the blue cabinet was outfitted with walnut and stainless steel shelving for additional kitchen storage. Private Comment
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| The aluminum bars on the outside of the cabinet were recessed into the surface. The bars are thicker in the spots where it made the most sense to grab on and pull the panels open. Normal Projects chose their placement by mapping the movement of the body across the cabinet. Private Comment
More: Inspiring Murphy Beds Ingenious Garage Makeover in Bordeaux Modern Houseboat in Vancouver, B.C. 90-Square-Foot Modern Kitchen Embraced by the Built-In Bed |
