Japanese architects studio-01 have designed a concept apartment composed of standard prefabricated furniture walls that can be easily moved and combined into different wall arrangements.

Barcode Room is a 20 square metre concept studio apartment created with movable walls to allow residents to customize the space according to their needs. Cooking, sleeping, studying and even a movie night party are some of the activities made possible through various wall configurations.

Inspired by a barcode, each wall arrangement or layout is a combination of a selection of 12 components. Depending on the combination of components, a range of types of bars can be created, such as a living bar, a kitchen bar, or a sleeping bar.

“Just as each object in a store has its own barcode, each usage of the apartment has its own layout, or barcode. The composition of the various components into different bars, as well as the position of these bars, allows the user to create their own unique collection of barcodes for their life,” the architects explained.

Barcode Room Floor Plan.

Barcode room floor plan.

The 12 types of bar components are 30 centimetres wide and 2.40 metres tall apiece, while the length can be adapted to the measure of the place where they will be installed. The flexibility of the system allows it to be installed not only into new studio apartments, but also into existing buildings.

The bars are built of light and resistant plywood to allow them to slide easily, using only a ceiling rail to guide movement and wheels below to allow it. Placing functional elements such as storage and furniture inside these walls, only to be pulled out when in use, maximises floor space.

Barcode Room Section.

Barcode room section.

The size of the interior space varies according to the residents’ needs. When different furniture is unfolded or pulled out of the walls, interior windows through the space are created, connecting both sides of the wall.

According to the architects, the concept would be ideal for customizing small studio apartments for temporary uses, for example, to accommodate students.

“Through the use of the furniture-wall, or bars, barcode room takes the typical studio space made for a single resident and allows it to be transformed into a space where one can live and friends can gather,” they said. “The dynamic quality of the space’s changeable size and continuity create a feeling of connectivity through the space which seems to virtually enlarge the small floor area.”

barcode room bar component

The 12 different components that make up the walls of Barcode Room.

Due to its versatility, and just by developing a larger variety of components to be fitted into the walls, this kind of project could be used in a range of spaces including commercial buildings, offices, exhibitions or art galleries, and restaurants.