Residential apartment

Abstract

A residential apartment uses mechanical or motorised systems to enable a primary room to be reconfigured to have multiple different functions, such as altering a sitting room to a dining room, to a bedroom, to a kitchen, and in which the apartment includes voids in one or more of the walls, ceiling and floor to incorporate the mechanical or motorized systems.

1 . A residential apartment that uses mechanical or motorised systems to enable a primary room to be reconfigured to have multiple different configurations or functions, such as altering a sitting room to a dining room, to a bedroom, to a kitchen, and in which the apartment includes voids in one or more of the walls, ceiling and floor to incorporate the mechanical or motorized systems. 
     
     
         2 . The apartment of  claim 1 , in which, in a bedroom configuration, a mechanical or motorised system operates a sleeping platform to move down from the ceiling to rest over a seating area and in a sitting room configuration the mechanical system operates the sleeping platform to move up from the seating area to the ceiling. 
     
     
         3 . The apartment of  claim 2  in which the seating area has built-in seating that is fixed in position. 
     
     
         4 . The apartment of  claim 2  in which the sleeping platform substantially covers the seating area. 
     
     
         5 . The apartment of  claim 2  in which the seating area is sunken into a void in the floor. 
     
     
         6 . The apartment of  claim 5  in which the seating area is shaped to fit together with the sleeping platform. 
     
     
         7 . The apartment of  claim 2  in which the sleeping platform when raised provides a ceiling over the seating area. 
     
     
         8 . The apartment of  claim 1  in which one or more storage areas are arranged in voids in the floor. 
     
     
         9 . The apartment of  claim 1  in which a sliding partition mounted in a void in the ceiling and/or floor separates the primary room into two or more zones including, optionally, a walk-in wardrobe and a spare bed area. 
     
     
         10 . The apartment of  claim 1  in which a mechanical coffee table transforms to dining table through a popup and open action. 
     
     
         11 . The apartment of  claim 1  in which, in a dining room configuration, a mechanical or motorised system moves a table into a position in which it forms a dining table. 
     
     
         12 . The apartment of  claim 1  in which a mechanical or motorised system moves built-in seating to a position suitable for the dining table. 
     
     
         13 . The apartment of  claim 1  in which a table is concealed in a seat or in a void in the floor or wall. 
     
     
         14 . The apartment of  claim 1 , in which a breakfast/preparation bar/counter folds down from wall. 
     
     
         15 . The apartment of  claim 1  in which folding, pocket kitchen doors are used. 
     
     
         16 . The apartment of  claim 1  in Which an office desk converts to a bed. 
     
     
         17 . The apartment of  claim 1  in which there is a fold down desk/bar/vanity unit next to the bedroom. 
     
     
         18 . The apartment of  claim 1  which includes a shower with a shower tray on which a person may stand, and in which the tray be moved to reveal a plunge bath. 
     
     
         19 . The apartment of  claim 1  in which the walls, ceiling or floor that contain the void or voids provide the respective functions of being a wall, ceiling and floor in a substantial portion of the primary room and are not merely part of an item of furniture that itself rests against or on a genuine (e.g. structural) part of a wall, ceiling or floor. 
     
     
         20 . The apartment of a  claim 1  in which the walls, ceilings or floors that contain the void or voids are false walls, ceilings or floors. 
     
     
         21 . The apartment of  claim 1  when formed in a former commercial building, taking advantage of the floor to ceiling heights in such building or new build or existing other use. 
     
     
         22 . A kit of parts comprising parts operable to be assembled into a dwelling that constitutes an apartment as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . A method of constructing a dwelling, including the steps of newly building or converting an existing building into an apartment as defined in  claim 1 .