The tiny kitchen that folds away when it's not in use

This is what the kitchen of the future could look like.  

As properties shrink, designers are being forced to come up with ingenious solutions to maximise floor space without emitting essential components.

Japanese kitchen manufacturer, Sanwa has just unveiled a new take on the studio kitchen which folds away when not in use. The Affilato Hide unit — recently showcased on Dezeen — is made up of a sink, counters and a hob. Folding steel doors pull down to allow the unit to 'disappear' when it's not in use, giving the illusion of more space.

The Affilato is part of a range of four compact kitchen units recently unveiled by the company at Milan Design Week. The other three are larger with different components. One even features a synthetic leather covering treated with antibacterial agents.

Looks like having no space to cook is no longer a reason to eat out every night.

Photography Dezeen