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Furniture of the Future as Imagined by Carlo Ratti and Cassina

12.11.13 | By
Furniture of the Future as Imagined by Carlo Ratti and Cassina

Carlo Ratti Associati teamed up with Cassina to create three design prototypes depicting what it might be like to use home furnishings in the near future if we continue to integrate technology and design both in form and function.

They’ll be showing three digitally fabricated prototypes at MAXXI in Rome through April 6th 2014 as part of ERASMUS EFFECT Italian Architects Abroad,an exhibition which focuses on Italian designers working internationally.

“There have been many explorations into digital fabrication in the world of furniture prototyping and small series in recent years – from 3D printing to laser cutting. Here for the first time, we see digital fabrication entering the mainstream production process – a true instance of what people have started to call the ‘Third Industrial Revolution’,” says Carlo Ratti, partner at CARLO RATTI ASSOCIATI and director of the MIT Senseable City Lab.

The idea behind these designs, which have been developed by Carlo Ratti Associati and the Research & Development Centre of Cassina as part of the Our Universe project, is to create adaptable, flexible designs that respond to our many changing needs. Demonstrating the impact of tech and digital devices on our everyday lives, the pieces attempt to help us see into the near future of furniture development.

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MyWing (built in & freestanding), execution by FGM (Fabrizio Milani) is an adaptable module designed to change based on your needs. The freestanding MyWing functions as a standalone coffee table as well as a table-top for working, eating, writing and reading, a magazine rack or a cup holder.

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Watch MyWing Freestanding in action:

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The built-in MyWing design is attached to the sofa on the side. The wooden surface has a steel structure that allows it to rotate, providing an easy and effortless configuration that facilitates the different uses desired: working, eating, writing, reading and storage.

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Watch MyWing Built-in in action:

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Chain Sofa is a rolling, transformable day bed that moves with your desired level of comfort. It is made up of a sequence of rollers connected by hinges which permit rotation through a system similar to that of a bicycle chain: with a simple movement it can transform from a bed, to a chaise-lounge, to an armchair, before returning back to a bed.

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Watch Chain Sofa in action:

Chain Sofa was created in collaboration with Mario Sassone (Professore aggregato Dipartimento di Architettura e Design, Politecnico di Torino), Skylar Tibbits (Department of Architecture, MIT), execution by FGM (Fabrizio Milani)

Jaime Derringer, Founder + Executive Editor of Design Milk, is a Jersey girl living in SoCal. She dreams about funky, artistic jewelry + having enough free time to enjoy some of her favorite things—running, reading, making music, and drawing.