BOSTON - Ori Inc., a developer of robotic interiors and furniture including OriCollection featuring the Ori Pocket Closet, an on-demand walk-in closet that can fit any room, teamed up with global furniture retailer IKEA.

IKEA is collaborating with Ori to develop robotic furniture for modern living and tiny rooms with the introduction of Rognan, a robotic furniture solution for small space living. According to the companies, consumers will be able to turn small spaces into smart spaces that have all the comfort and convenience of a home.

Hasier Larrea, Ori CEO and founder, told Fast Company "that while it may look similar at first glance, the Rognan is significantly different from earlier Ori units as a result of Ikea’s in-home research it conducted abroad. In the U.S., Ori units have been packaged as entertainment centers for small home theaters. But for the large Asian markets where Rognan will first launch, the promise of giant TVs was less appealing than offering more practical storage and the additional seating of a built-in couch. The design teams also significantly lowered the height of the unit, as apartments in Japan and Hong Kong tend to have lower ceilings than the U.S."

Additional details on the Rognan system will be available this summer.

Ori products available in U.S.

Additional products in the OriCollection include the Ori Cloud Bed, a bed that lowers from the ceiling or lifts to the ceiling to reveal a sofa, and the Ori Studio Suite, a modern all-in-one system that transforms a studio apartment into a spacious living room, comfortable bedroom, office, and more. According to the company, the Ori Studio Suite has already been installed in more than 20 buildings in cities across the U.S., including Boston, New York metro area, Washington, DC, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco. 

“The Ori Collection will show the world how robotics allow us to see space differently, and provide compelling solutions for adapting urban spaces to us and our daily activities," Larea said. "The Ori Pocket Closet, Ori Cloud Bed, and Ori Studio Suite each demonstrate that you no longer need a lot of square footage to make small spaces both functional and comfortable.”

Ori is a Boston start-up founded by MIT engineers with the vision of recreating urban space through the aid of robotic engineering and new approaches to design. 

Learn more at oriliving.com.