Innovative space-saver furniture for condo life in 'X=8(Box)' 

Getting a place of your own is exciting, even if it means leaving your spacious family home for a tiny room. It may be a bit cramped, but at least you finally have your own space to decorate as you please.

 

But once you start looking around for furniture, you may realize that apartment living is easier said than done. In some cases, there's just enough space for a single bed, a table, and one chair – so you can forget about having friends over.  

 

Inspired to design furniture that makes the most out of space, eight interior design students of St. Scholastica's College, Manila came up with "X=8(Box)," an exhibit of multi-functional yet compact pieces.

 

"Ang target namin is to maximize the uses of the furniture pieces," explained Milcah Sugpatan, saying they wanted their designs to be useful for modern living, where many people stay in condominium units.

 

Convertibles are the answer

 

For the exhibit, Sugpatan designed "Amity," a six-piece bedroom set that can be converted into a table, two lounge seats, and a bed. "It can be any way you put it together. It depends on you," she said.

 

Pamela Yadao explained that all their designs feature several pieces that can be transformed into one. "Space saver lahat," she said, adding that they also wanted their furniture to be easy to store in case of floods.

 

Yadao designed "Co-Bo," a center table that transforms into a four-seater dining set. After meals, the two side chairs and two ottomans are neatly hidden inside the box-shaped table.

 

"Dining tables take up immense space, and nowadays, kumakain na lang tayo sa couch. People don't eat at the dining table anymore. So, solution na pagsamahin sila," Yadao said.

 

Kim Kayaban's "Tango" looks like a stack of hotdog-shaped pillows, but can actually be transformed into an ottoman, floor lounge seats, or to a single or double bed. 

 

"What's good about this design is it's really stackable and when you stack it, it's very decorative," said Kayaban. "Tango" can be even be converted into a table with low seats for Japanese-style dining.   

When it's time to sleep, all you have to do is roll it out. "I chose the best foam so it will be really comfortable when you lie down. It looks curvy, but the foam follows the contours of the body," Kayaban said, inviting us to try it out. Lying down, I found that despite its appearance, it's actually a comfortable mattress.

 

A beach feeling

 

Kim Nora's "Cream and Coffee" lounge chairs were designed for a poolside, garden, rooftop, or beach resort. "Mas maganda sa residential kasi feel mong na sa bakasyon ka talaga, 'yung parang 'yan na 'yung Boracay feeling sa bahay mo," she said.

 

Made with polyurethane and leatherette, the lounge chairs are easy to maintain, and when not in use, can be put together as a decorative piece. "Kapag di na siya magagamit, magseserve din siya as sculpture sa bahay. Marami sa amin magiging sculpture yung hitsura, aesthetically beautiful," Nora said.

 

Shannine Dellova's "Sunrise" furniture set, for instance, can be kept as an accent piece with its bright hues of blue and orange. When unassembled, the two rocking chairs and two coffee tables can be used both indoors and outdoors.

 

Dellova said the rocking chairs were popular with grandparents, and the pieces may be ordered individually. "Pero mas maganda as a set. Kasi mawawala yung theme na stackable," she said.

 

Eireen San Diego's candy-colored "EI-D" is a box-shaped piece that combines dining and drawers. The hidden pieces are revealed by pulling at the different knobs. "Para malimit yung space, pag inurong mo yung chair niya, magiging isang malaki na siyang cabinet," she explained.

 

“Love is a trap” furniture 

Samantha Oliva's "Vowoer's Cage" was inspired by the idea that love is a trap. Made with wicker rattan woven in a box pattern, the cage consists of two chairs, two ottomans, and a center table. When not in use, the cage can be put together, forming an interesting garden piece. "Kapag sinara, mukhang vase," Oliva said. 

 

Reine Valeros' "453" is at first glance, a simple black and white living room set. But the pieces fit snugly together to save space. "453 'yung pangalan kasi boxy siya. Four-sided 'yung box kaya 4. Five furniture pieces, tapos 3, dahil three uses," Valeros explained. The two ottomans can be kept under the two chairs, which can be put together to form a loveseat. Meanwhile, the slatted center table can be adjusted to make it longer or shorter.

 

"Traditionally it's just a chair, but this time we made compact furniture na sa isang space, para ma-accommodate niya lahat," Sugpatan said. The concept of stackable furniture pieces is the basis for the exhibit's name, where X is unknown and 8(BOX) is equivalent to eight mystery boxes that hide their true form.

 

They designed their furniture as solutions for today's typical residence, where space is very important. "Kapag di mo na kailangan, pwedeng i-tuck in para mas malaki yung magamit mong space," Nora said. 

 

As apartment dwellers know, every little square counts. "Halimbawa may party ka, kung magmimingle mingle kayo ng friends mo pwedeng itago muna lahat... magkakaroon ka ng mas maraming space, magmumukhang malaki yung condo," she said. -- KDM, GMA News 

 

X=8(BOX) was held from February 22 to 24 at Robinsons Magnolia.

 

All photos by Manix Abrera.