New York's micro-unit exhibition extended to September 15th

Due to popular demand, the Museum of the City of New York is now extending their "Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers" exhibit until Sept. 15, 2013. Originally planned to close on Labor Day weekend after recently hosting its special "Living Large While Living Small" series this month, the exhibit continues to attract visitors from around the globe.

In addition to experiencing the fully built micro-apartment, visitors were drawn to one specific feature: the "Cubista." The Cubista is a coffee table and ottoman that transforms to a table that can seat four people.

Starting Friday, Aug. 30 until Sept. 15, any museum visitor can enter for a chance to win the $1,000 Cubista (with paid admission). One lucky visitor will be chosen.

Keep reading to learn more about the exhibit and the Cubista.

"The exhibition examines how New York City’s changing social, economic, and cultural lives, especially the rise of single adults, are re-shaping urban households. It presents an array of innovative architectural solutions that could better accommodate the city’s emerging housing needs...

Making Room features proposals to provide new housing options for a 21st century population (including shared housing for single adults and modified homes for extended families), a look at real-life examples pioneered in other cities around the world, and innovative designs submitted to New York City’s adAPT competition, which enticed developer/architect teams to design buildings of micro-units for small households, meaning one- to two-people..."

"A highlight of the exhibition is the full-scale “micro-unit,” giving visitors the chance to step into an innovative solution that could help New York accommodate the city’s booming single population. The 250-square-foot apartment, built and furnished by Clei s.r.l. and Resource Furniture, changes through the course of the day, morphing to the occupant’s needs. With transformable furniture, such as tables, bed systems and seating, space is utilized efficiently and creatively...

The exhibition also highlights the work of five design teams that came out of a challenge CHPC [Citizens Housing & Planning Council] launched in partnership with the Architectural League of New York in 2011. The teams’ proposals explore a multitude of new housing types, including mini-studios for single adults, new shared housing options, and accessory units for extended families..."

"One of the more enticing elements of the “micro-unit” is the Cubista, an ingenious little coffee table and ottoman that transforms to provide seating for four people. The Cubista was customized with a walnut top and upholstery specifically for the Making Room exhibition.

Each side of the vibrant Cubista can be removed and attached to one of four steel bases tucked inside the ottoman structure – and each with a comfortably padded seat. The seats, in fact, are the perfect dining and desk seat height."

For more info and other ongoing exhibits, visit mcny.org.