Wouldn’t your vacation home be a whole lot cooler if you could take it with you on vacation? The miniHome from Altius is a home-away-from-home-on-wheels and completely off the grid. Classed as an RV, the miniHome has been sustain-ably designed by Canadian architect Andy Thomson. Existing models include the eco-friendly, solar powered SOLO and the DUO, and there are rumors of six new introductions later this year.

Catering to forward-thinking design enthusiasts (especially those with a fancy for small plastic aliens), Designbot is definitely on our cool people list.

The concept behind Sketch Furniture by Front Design in Japan is so simple yet so technologically advanced it will honestly make your head spin. Imagine holding a pen, and drawing contours in the air, and all of a sudden, your strokes emerge from a basin of liquid fabrication, into tangible fruition. If it doesn’t seem possible to you, you’re not alone. But Front Design has made this possible. Now imagine that this pen is actually a mouse that is wirelessly connected to a state-of-the-art 3D workstation. Using the same motion-capture technology that assigns real-life actors’ movements to virtual characters in movies and video games, every movement of this pen is transmitted and stored as 3D information. This information is then sent to a machine that casts this information into a real-time sculpture. To suspend all disbelief, visit Front Design’s website and watch their awesome video demo.

Every once in a while, something new comes along that characterizes a certain aspect of human necessity and fills this void by offering an out-of-the-box solution. Take for instance, the need for flexibility, mobility and style in a small living space, in this case, a bedroom, and the solution arriving in a 32” x 48” package marked “Casulo”. Unpack this box, and that’s exactly what you’ll get…a portable and modular bedroom that takes 10 minutes to set up (no tools needed), and the same amount of time to pack up and stow away before your evening guests arrive.

Casulo consists of a wardrobe, desk/table w/ a cabinet and an adjustable chair, two stools, a single bed and mattress, and a stylish shelving unit. If that doesn’t work for you, you can even use the stools and desk drawers as additional storage.

Evil Mad Scientists are behind what we believe to be the beginning of a revolution in how digital technology will become an integrated part of home living. After having drooled over Microsoft’s Surface videos on Youtube, and how awesome touch-screen technology could be, we’re quite impressed with the LED Coffee Table from EvilMadScientist. Their Interactive LED Coffee Tables have been stirring quite a buzz on the web, and into the homes of ultra-modern enthusiasts. While working off a completely different technology and principle, I’ll settle for one of these for now. Currently available in two models, this Coffee Table consists of a surface containing hundreds of LED lights that respond to motion above the table. Check out their demonstration video.

IORI
The IORI infuses the tradition of old world Japanese design with today’s meditation needs, by providing the stylish functionality of the Murphy bed. When closed, this bed becomes a piece of furniture in a room, available in different finishes to best suit any setting. When opened, this unique seat is transform any space into a zen oasis.