What if Furniture Had Superpowers? | Hasier Larrea | TEDxCambridge

With more than 54% of the world's population now living in cities according to the U.N., many newly urbanized denizens are learning how to make do with less - especially when it comes to smaller living and working spaces. But there are still important barriers keeping us from living smaller, and we must get past them. Hasier argues that the use of robotics holds the key for making living spaces act like if they were twice or three times bigger. Downsizing in square footage does not have to mean downsizing functionality or experience anymore.
Hasier Larrea is an engineer and designer at the MIT Media Lab. He holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Hasier leads the Architectural Robotics research area at the Media Lab, which focuses on creating a new generation of hyper efficient and responsive urban spaces. His team is developing the robotic tools that allow traditional architectural and furniture elements to transform and intelligently connect to the world around us. His work on the CityHome and CityOffice has been featured in The New York Times, Time, Fast Company, Wired, and TechCrunch among others. His creative and entrepreneurial interests help translate the Lab’s envisioning, inventing, and designing approach into manifesting the ideal smart city from researchers’ minds to the streets of tomorrow.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at