YO! Home, the pioneering and intuitive living space set to revolutionise contemporary homes, has launched in London at 100% Design, where YOTEL was launched seven years ago. Conceived and developed by Simon Woodroffe, the man responsible for YO! Sushi and YOTEL, this aims to transform the way we live.
Woodroffe comments: “I think homes help shape our lives. They are our refuge, and our rock. Since the invention of the city centre apartment, we’ve never really re-invented it. YO! Home is that new invention. Twelve moving parts drawing on the mechanics of stage scenery allow the transformation of an eighty square metre space (the size of a one bedroom apartment) into a much bigger home.”
YO! Home was developed by a team more used to designing the mechanics of stage set scenery for big West End musicals and Rock Shows around the world and draws on Woodroffe’s previous career as a rock show stage designer. YO! Home is also inspired by what he learnt developing the spaces of YOTEL, and indeed the layouts of some of his houseboats where he lives on the Thames.
Woodroffe shows that, at the pull of a wall, the opening of a floor or the press of a button he can transform an eighty square metre space into a home containing: a master bedroom suite; a second bedroom; a sunken sitting room; a cinema; a dining room; an office; a full size kitchen; a breakfast room; a bathroom/spa; a party room; a wine cellar, and additional hidden storage. The moving mechanicals have been assembled in theatre and exhibition specialist workshops in South London, by engineers and craftsmen, many of whom were recently employed on some of the tricks, lights and spectacle of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies.
This is the first prototype of YO! Home and the first time it has been seen, as no imagery was released before the launch at 100% Design. YO! Home acts as a precursor to the launch of new build apartment blocks and office block conversions in cities around the world. Through a commitment to high quality without the relating high costs, Woodroffe believes this will attract buyers of all ages and backgrounds making YO! Home another success within the YO! brand.
YO! Home is at 100% Design, the UK’s most visited contemporary design event from Wednesday 19 – Saturday 22 September 2012. It is located in the Central Hub of 100% Interiors. Now in its 18th year, 100% Design 2012 introduces 100% Future Living as the theme connecting each of the four show sections, and in which YO! Home plays an integral part.
Simon Woodroffe is available to talk about how he got his YO! - his homes of the future - his houseboats - his path from roadie to serial entrepreneur, ideas and how to get them, his departure from Dragon’s Den for being too nice, and the YOs that didn’t work too.
