The Fold, by Ori

Cambridge, Mass—

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Today, Ori became the first company to introduce a family of intelligent, responsive systems combining robotics, architecture and design to enable effortless transformation of interior space. Ori’s launch heralds an era in which interior space will dynamically and almost magically conform to our activities, dramatically improving its efficiency and utility and our experience. The initial application of Ori’s technology can transform a single studio space into a one bedroom apartment, suited with a bedroom, living room and office.

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Guided by the principal that interior space, particularly in high-density urban innovation centers around the world, has become too expensive to be static and unresponsive, Ori’s breakthrough innovation, technology and design create dynamic environments that act and feel as though they are substantially larger. Ori’s systems promise to liberate urban design, provide new user experiences, and unlock the potential of the places we increasingly want to live, work and play.

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“Ori is launching systems that could fundamentally alter the experience and economics of the urban built environment,” said Hasier Larrea, Ori’s CEO. “Ori’s systems make possible the effortless and magical transformation of interior spaces, providing the totally new experience of having our interior space intelligently conform to our activities, rather than our activities being forced to conform to our interior space.”

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Ori has developed its initial family of connected products for small, modern, urban living, as well as the full brand and corresponding application, in partnership with the award-winning design studio Fuseproject, led by world-renowned designer Yves Béhar. “Many people living in urban environments no longer have the luxury of space, or they are choosing to live in a smaller footprint. What Ori does is to maximize the functionality of a space; with robotic technology it creates a beautiful and transformative living and working environment that is unlike anything the world has seen,” says Béhar.

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Ori’s residential systems offer intelligent space on demand: with the light touch of a finger, a spacious living room converts into a comfortable bedroom, a walk-in-closet, or an office, all connected to any smart-home ecosystem. Ori’s innovations build on groundbreaking research at MIT’s Media Lab focused on using technology to respond to the challenges of global urbanization, led by MIT Professor Kent Larson and his CityHome project (www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8giE7i7CAE). Media Lab founder and technology visionary Nicholas Negroponte was actively involved in the conception of this research project and is currently an advisor for Ori.

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Ori's first commercial residential solutions are being introduced by leading developers in Boston, Washington DC and Seattle starting this summer. The company is accepting additional pilot program partners and anticipates full product availability in early 2017. Ori’s modular robotic technology and intelligent systems have almost limitless adaptability, enabling applications in office, hospitality, retail, education, medical and other urban settings where dynamic and responsive interior space could enable multi-functional efficiency and utility.

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Ori derives its name from “origami,” the Japanese art of folding paper to create beautiful and remarkable objects.