Modu House combines “Modular” and “House,” emphasizing flexible, transformable furniture and modern living. It’s a sleek, innovative name for adaptable apartment spaces.

Modu House Mission: Addressing the Housing Crisis for New York’s Middle Class and Creating a New Living Experience for the Curious and Adventurous

Primary User Demographic Research for the Building

Ideal Client Overview:
Our ideal clients are sociable, middle-class individuals and families with a strong desire to explore the world and share experiences. They love community living, seek meaningful connections with neighbors, and look for a comfortable, accessible home where they can actively participate in activities and embrace a vibrant urban lifestyle.

AMI (Area Median Income) is a measure of the median—or middle—household income in a specific geographic area, typically determined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). AMI serves as a benchmark to categorize household income levels and is widely used to assess eligibility for affordable housing programs.

From this table, we can observe that all ratios are equal to or exceed 30%, highlighting the significant rental burden faced by the middle class in New York. This means that, for most middle-income families, a substantial portion of their income goes toward rent, leaving less available for other essentials and savings. Such high rent-to-income ratios are a clear indicator of the affordability crisis within the city, where housing costs are rising faster than income growth.

Functional zoning of building

Studio Preliminary Research

#1 User Group Research

According to the latest research data from 2023-2024, the trend of working from home in New York City continues to grow, even though the impact of the pandemic has decreased. The popularity of remote work remains high.

Data from the “New York City Department of Labor” shows that about 21% of workers in New York were still working in a hybrid or fully remote model in 2023, a significant increase compared to before the pandemic.

One of the biggest challenges of working from home is space, especially in a densely populated city like New York. Many residents live in smaller apartments or studios, which makes efficiently using limited space key for working from home. According to the “2023 New York Housing Market Report”, over “60%” of remote workers have set up a dedicated workspace at home, with about 45% of them using modular furniture or adjustable desks to improve space efficiency and comfort.

For those working from home, space limitations are a big concern, especially for apartment and studio dwellers. They need to make the most of their furniture and home layout. Modular and multifunctional furniture is becoming more popular because it offers flexibility and maximizes space. Many people divide their living space into a workspace and a relaxation area, using movable furniture or partitions to create a separate work environment.

So my target audience will be the Couples temporarily without children or People who need to work from home

#2 Studio Interior Design Research

Ori Studio

Design Concept

My design concept creates a flexible balance between work and life by using multifunctional furniture, adaptable layouts, and smart storage to maximize space efficiency and provide a comfortable, efficient environment for remote workers.

Concept Broad

Position:

In the context of small apartment living, how can we design a space that meets the efficient needs of working from home while also providing enough privacy and a comfortable living experience? How can we balance work and life in a limited space, allowing users to focus on their work at home while also enjoying a relaxing and comfortable environment?

Challenge:

With the rise of remote work and flexible offices, more people are choosing to work from home, especially in small apartments. Working from home brings new challenges: how to provide a quiet, focused work environment in a limited space, without letting the work area take over the entire living space, while also maintaining the quality of the rest of the home?

How to solve:

For these “people working home”, the boundaries between the work area and living area are often blurred. Small apartments need to support efficient work while also ensuring a comfortable living experience and privacy. Therefore, the design must consider privacy, comfort, space efficiency, and multifunctionality, creating a flexible and adaptable living environment.

Interior design for a studio space

This apartment offers three flexible and smart modes: Day Mode, Night Mode, and Entertainment Mode. Each mode is carefully designed to meet different lifestyle needs and scenarios.

Day Mode

Day Mode is primarily designed for remote work. In Day Mode, the user can simply control the system to lift the bed, which then attaches to the ceiling, freeing up more space. The foldable desk, which is built into the wall, automatically flips down and transforms into a fully functional office desk. The desk has a modern, minimalist design and is equipped with plenty of power outlets and USB ports, making it ideal for long work hours. In this mode, the apartment remains quiet and tidy, and the lighting system adjusts to the perfect brightness to help the user focus and work efficiently.

Night Mode

Night Mode provides a quiet and comfortable sleep environment. When Night Mode is activated, the foldable desk is automatically retracted, and the bed gently lowers from the wall, creating a cozy sleeping area. The bed is made with soft linens, and the bedside lights automatically adjust to a warm tone, creating a relaxing, peaceful atmosphere. The curtains close automatically, blocking out external light, ensuring a private and undisturbed environment for sleep. In this mode, all other devices in the apartment enter standby mode, allowing the user to rest without distractions.

Entertainment Mode

Entertainment Mode caters to the user’s needs for relaxation and socializing. In this mode, the bed is raised again to open up the space, and the foldable sofa automatically extends, placing it in the center of the living area, perfect for gathering with friends or watching movies. A retractable desk in the corner automatically slides out, making it easy to do small work or read during leisure time. When it’s time to eat, the expandable dining table increases in size, accommodating more guests for meals. This design makes efficient use of space while providing great convenience for social activities.

With these three modes, this apartment combines flexible space usage with the user’s needs, allowing for a comfortable, smart, and efficient living experience, whether for work, sleep, or entertainment.

Multifunctional Transformable Modular Furniture Design

Modular furniture is very suitable for people who need to make the most of limited space, want flexibility, and need more functions. It not only helps to optimize small spaces but also improves the room’s appearance and comfort. It is an ideal choice for modern small living spaces.

Use simple designs (with more simple or straight shapes):
1.Reduce unnecessary details. Use standardized parts and sizes to minimize custom requirements in production, thus lowering manufacturing costs.
2.Avoid complex carvings or inlay work, and use simple fixing methods like screws.
Use modular parts.

Environmental Protection and Sustainability:
1.Consider using recyclable materials, which can reduce production costs and attract environmentally conscious consumers.
2.Reduce excessive packaging and use eco-friendly materials for packaging. This not only follows green trends but also lowers transportation costs.

Mood Broad

Rendering

Day Mode：

Night Mode:

Entertainment Mode:

Personal Care：

Each of our creations is a unique work of art. If you are interested in our designs or apartments, feel free to contact us or visit in person to experience the exclusive charm and ideal space tailored just for you.