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Refrigerator-raiding roommates? Try Flatshare, the modular fridge

The Flatshare modular-refrigerator concept saves you from messy, food-stealing roommates.

Brian Krepshaw
Brian is the author of two culinary based books published via his imprint Storkburger Press. A lifelong Californian, he has been consistently exposed to some of the best food in the world. With a deep appreciation for the kitchen, he is always on the lookout for that perfect appliance that combines style and grace with the ever-popular ability to save time.
Brian Krepshaw
2 min read
Now if it just had locks... Electrolux

At some time or another, you have probably experienced refrigerator wars. If you haven't, then you have either been living under a rock, or have never shared a living space with another human. Since few are born into a singular existence, I am going to guess that at least once you have rooted through the fridge for those delicious leftovers, only to later find that your roommate, spouse, sibling, or parent got to them first.

Most of us experience this sad loss when we first find ourselves living with roommates. Little did you know that while you were working hard, your good-for-nothing roommate was happily chowing down on your Chinese food leftovers. Only later do you find the evidence: dried up bits of kung pao chicken scattered about in your room, revealing that not only was the loser eating your food, he was going through your stuff, too.

Flatshare, the modular refrigerator, hopes to clean up some of those messy interapartment relations. It was created by Stefan Buchberger, a design student at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, as part of the Electrolux Design Lab 2008 contest. Borne out of necessity from living with a messy fridge in a shared flat, the Flatshare's modular design allows for the stacking of up to four modules.

While the Flatshare may be just a design for now, it is a concept whose time has come. Of course, the refrigerator can't help you out if your rotten roommate goes into your independent module. Maybe the next step would be to install locks on the individual doors...or find a new roommate.