Ever wonder how boards turn from trees into building materials? While not a secret, the process is also not entirely obvious – and rarely this clear or quite so visceral.

Vincent Kohler (photos by Geoffrey Cottenceau) shows the art and geometry of the dissection process in much the same way an insect specialist might cut and splice a living specimen (or a butcher’s chart shows where slabs of meat can be found).

The result is a kind of three-dimensional version of a logging diagram drawing, showing in frozen time and physical reality how each cut is made and what the resulting sizes are, from which our minds can also reverse-engineer the order of cuts.

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In definitively Italian style, this staircase manages to be both minimalist and outrageous at the same time – a sharp linear black work contrasting with a classical white space.

Designed by Francesco Librizzi Studio (images by Giovanna Silva), the metal frame is thin and modern almost to a fault – climbing or descending requires careful steps.

Still, for the space, such a bare-bones approach works aesthetically as the stairs become a sculptural object, and practically given the limited room to work with.

About the designer: “Born in 1977, Francesco Librizzi graduated in Architecture in Palermo. In 2005 he founded Francesco Librizzi Studio, an architectural practice based in Milano involved in architecture, interiors, exhibition design and product design. During this years the studio has developed architectural devices from small to large scale. Some of this works have been awarded prestigious prizes, have been published on international magazines and have been exhibited by important institutions.”

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No need to swap out your existing deadbolt with a newfangled device – this circular switch slots right over your locking mechanism, but shifts the method of unlocking to entirely new territory.

Designed by Jason Johnson and Yves Behar, the Smart Lock can sense your approach automatically, saving you the trouble of taking out your virtual ‘key’, or can be activated remotely for house guests or a forgetful child or spouse.

Further settings include the ability to allow certain persons to key in codes at particular times or on particular days, so a delivery can be made, dog can be walked or house can be cleaned, all without handing over a full-time means of access.

From the creators: “Have you ever lost your keys? I am willing to bet that 99% of us have. In the last year, 20% of Americans have been locked out of their homes at least once. Humanity has been carrying keys, sharp pieces of metal in our pockets, for 200 years…it’s time we think of something else.”

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Part prototype, part experiment, but entirely excellent, this mobile shelter was a design/build labor of love from its scrappy start to its rustic finish.

Aaron Maret made this 200-square-foot structure mainly from reclaimed and salvaged materials and local upcycled hardwoods.

After spending time downsizing and living in it himself, he has put the building up for sale … and unfortunately been criticized by some for his $64,000 asking price. Sure it is a lot per square foot, but unique and custom come at a cost – critics are of course welcome to construct their own.

From its creator: “This tiny house on wheels is a synthesis of thoughtful design, detail-oriented craftsmanship, and a healthy dose of patience. Five years in the making (longer if you count the design time), this has been a labor of love and a playful experiment in alternative construction… and living.”

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A two-story courtyard featuring an oculus for six willow trees, surrounded by a peaceful reflecting pool on the upper level, provides a sense of separation between the homes of a retired couple and one of their adult children. Located in Singapore, the Wall House by FARM is technically one residence with two separate, self-contained ‘blocks’ of living space linked at the living and dining areas by a granite patio.

The upper levels of both volumes are planted with grass, flowers and small trees, providing a sunny spot to relax, while the lower level of the courtyard stays cool and shady. While the balconies and terraces off the bedrooms of the top floors face each other, they remain separated.

The lower courtyard is a communal dining space leading to a shared library, and the separate living and dining spaces, kitchens and guest rooms of each home. One unit features an additional study with its own private living room, and the other has a gym.

The green roofs, a number of water features and lots of wood and stone give the homes a feeling of connection with nature despite the city setting. Throughout the private spaces on the bottom floor, narrow courtyards open to the sky above placed beside expanses of glass let natural light flood in.

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A seat that loops over the head of the sitter provides a sense of enclosure and privacy in busy public environments like airports and hotel lobbies, or simply reduces distractions at home. ‘Windowseat Lounge’ by San Francisco design studio Mike & Maaike simply extends three ‘walls’ to create a room within a room.

Incorporating these architectural elements makes it easier for the sitter to shut out the hustle and bustle of the room just beyond their safe little refuge. The back is left open so you can easily lean back and peek out, maintaining a connection.

This unusual chair design would also fit right into offices with open plans, where it’s easy to feel very exposed. Closing yourself off in a private space to think or make a phone call is as easy as sitting down. The walls of the Windowseat Lounge muffle ambient noise.

Made of a steel frame upholstered in wool, Windowseat Lounge is available in four colors from the Haworth Collection.

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It can be argued that all art is alive in some way, but Dutch design studio Toer has created an interactive light sculpture that seems to actually live, breathe, and react to its environment.

Fiet is a light fixture covered with hundreds of cones. Under normal circumstances, it moves gently and slowly, almost as if it is breathing. But a loud noise changes its behavior instantly.

A shout, a clap, a loud bang – any sudden noise causes it to immediately act like it is stressed out. It may shake or “breathe” more quickly, giving the same physical indications that an animal would when startled.

The light fixture/sculpture explores the boundaries of materials and our interactions with them. Sculptures and light fixtures alike are typically static objects, but the Fiet challenges our notions of the way we can observe and interact with the things around us.

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Levitating tables are usually reserved for magicians and seances, but the Floating Table from designer Ingo Maurer is an elegant addition to a non-magical dining room.

The legless table was built in collaboration with Established & Sons and seems to float above the matching chairs. In reality, the tabletop is supported by specially-designed armrests that extend out from the accompanying chairs.

The chairs are able to pull out from the table thanks to a hidden mechanism, allowing you to sit down comfortably and then pull the chair in closer to the tabletop.

Along with the novelty factor of a legless table, there is a practical aspect to this unusual piece of furniture. Sitting at a table without legs means that there is no more fighting for leg space, and no one gets stuck sitting with their knee uncomfortably pressed against the table leg.

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When it comes to apartments in Manhattan, you’ve often got to be creative with the space you’ve got. Specht Harpman transformed a claustrophobic, dark micro-loft in Manhattan into a four-level living space that looks far larger than it actually is.

The first level features a small bathroom and a space-saving kitchen with wrap-around counters that extend around into the living space.

The living room occupies the home’s second level and makes clever use of the staircase by incorporating multiple storage cubbies and drawers. This solution keeps the space uncluttered and open, while the open staircase with cables running from the stairs to the very top of the apartment provide a sense of continuity.

The third level of the home is occupied by a serene sleeping area. The lofted bed nook looks out over the living room below. Another staircase offers even more under-stair storage compartments and leads up to the fourth level: a grassy rooftop terrace.

The micro-loft makes exceptionally smart use of the very little space it occupies, balancing wide open spaces – like a couple of tall, blank walls – with compact details. The light walls and dark floors give the apartment a timeless, classic look while the unique layout is thoroughly modern.

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Power naps have been proven over and over to boost brain power and make you more productive at work. Unfortunately not many employers approve of on-the-job sleeping, but for those few lucky enough to have napping benefits, this combination desk and bed is perfect.

The streamlined modern desk bed was designed by Athanasia Leivaditou of Studio NL. It’s a clever combination that starts with a sleek white desk. It opens up to become a semi-private resting place for after-lunch snoozes.

Slide the desktop back a bit, fold the back down inside the leg space to create the mattress and lower one side a bit, and the desk is transformed into a small bed perfect for a mid-day catnap – complete with an inclined pillow.

The interior of the desk even includes a small TV so you can fall asleep to your favorite movie or just recline while you watch a little reality TV and zone out for a bit. The desk bed could be great not only for offices, but for people who combine living and working in tiny apartments.

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How amazing would it be to find the perfect vacation spot and simply plop a pre-fabricated home down on it? That’s the aim of the folks behind PODhouse, a small prefab cabin that can be delivered, electrical wiring and all, to a destination of your choosing.

Available in three sizes, PODhouses are able to accommodate a variety of living situations and preferences. The Menhir is the smallest model, offering a sleeping area that runs from front to back – and not much more room than required for sleeping.

The next step up is the Cauma, a charming tiny cottage that features a door in the middle of the cabin’s length. As seen in the above photo, additions such as small porches are simple enough to make.

The largest model, the Plaun, is large enough to hold a family – though probably not large enough for an indoor trampoline or a friendly game of tag. All of the models can come equipped with an optional entryway called Portal, a small extension of the archway to protect the entrance from the elements.

Each PODhouse has to sit on a simple foundation. The tiny cabins are moved, completely assembled, by trucks and lifted by machinery onto the foundation. Although it can be dropped into place, permits are still required to construct one and an electrician is needed to connect each cabin to the electrical grid if desired.

The German company behind the prefab cottages suggests that they can be used as extension of hotels or as small, nature-based communes. But the best use we can think of is finding a remote spot, plunking down a PODhouse, and simply getting away from it all for a couple of weeks.

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Curves can be challenging, but inside and out, this dwelling follows through, wrapping up and around to form two stories of semi-continuous space that feels both domestic and dynamic.

In Finnish tradition, wood can be found throughout the home, adding an organic touch that reinforces the curved shape, with concrete and steel playing secondary roles.

Designed by Olavi Koponen and built in Espoo, Finland, the layout proceeds from public to private spaces and balances static rooms with a sense of ongoing movement.

In each space, furniture either floats in the space or is custom-fit to the exterior. This is not an inexpensive proposition, particularly when it comes to built-ins … but it does make everything feel homey and fit-to-purpose.

In plan and elevation, you can see the single major break in the continuous curve, creating a separation for the master suite area, starting with the open-style bathroom and leading into the bedroom.

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It is a sensation we associate with luxury resorts and remote beaches – stepping out of the water and onto smooth pebbles. It is also remarkably easy to recreate this experience at home.

Susan Wasinger from Natural Home (via LifeHacker) spells out the simple steps and materials, but essentially: (1) make the frame, (2) add a wire mesh screen, (3) add the stones. And voila, a free foot massage every day. The tools are elementary as well: a basic saw, pliers, screws and glue will do.

Details can be found here, but think of this as a fun project worth adapting – not something to strictly follow the rules on, particularly when it comes to the constituent materials: “The stones can be collected in your beach-combing adventures or purchased by the bag at garden centers and stone yards for a couple bucks a pound.”

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A simple twist on a classic dual-seat bench, this elegant variant lets you choose which way you face in a simple motion and without forcing your neighbor to do the same.

Pivoting on a central metal beam below, the backrests provides sturdy support when you sit down but is easily swung when there is no weight on it. French designer and cabinetmaker Chloe de la Chaise created a limited-edition series of fifty of these benches, produced with options including chestnut, oak, robinia-acacia and moabi.

From the listing: “A contemporary twist on the Victorian Tete a Tete love seat, the Double View bench easily changes your perspective with a minimal effort. The double backrest pivots around an axis located below the seat and thus two people can sit side by side, or in opposing directions. Choose your position, then change it.”

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Slightly-squiggly lines divide the multi-hued organic building blocks of this crisp-edged mountain home, tying it into the surrounding landscape of rolling hills and rough cacti.

A set of boxes lifts and falls, following the slope of the site and together forming an unobtrusive but distinctively man-made one-floor residence by DUST Architects (images by Jeff Goldberg/ESTO).

Thick solid structural walls frame large floor-to-ceiling expanses of glass, a binary approach that leaves little by way of architectural detail to obscure views of nature (and maximizes solar heat gain in the winter, while minimizing it in the summer). Patios of matching simplicity jut out in the form of simple slabs from the main structure, while flat rooftop decks hover above.

Harvested rainwater (30,000 gallons of capacity) provides for the needs of the residents from drinking to washing and bathing. From the architects, the site is situated in an “extremely lush, exposed, arid expanse of land that emits a sense of stillness and permanency, and holds mysteries of magical proportions.”

The building itself “is carefully sited in response to the adjacent arroyos, rock out-croppings, ancient cacti, animal migration paths, air movement, sun exposure and views. Great effort was invested to minimise the physical impact of the home in such a fragile environment, while at the same time attempting to create a place that would serve as a backdrop to life and strengthen the sacred connections to the awe-inspiring mystical landscape.”

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Do guests at your less formal gatherings deserve less hospitality than those attending holiday dinners? Disposable tableware is certainly convenient, but it can have a very casual feel, which isn’t always fitting for the occasion. A Japanese line of eco-friendly plates, cups and bowls called WASARA brings a bit of style and panache to the table. Made from non-wood materials such as the pulp of an invasive reed plant and sugarcane waste, this single-use tableware series is simple, modern and beautiful.

When objects are given more thought, they’re given more value. Assigning aesthetic value to transient objects may help people think more carefully about how such objects are used. The designers sought to address the problem of unnecessary waste while also paying tribute to the Japanese tradition of hospitality.

The result is a product with a streamlined design, tailored to Japanese cuisine, which “gives a fine appearance t the tableware with sushi on it.” Each item is ergonomic and made to be clutched in one’s hand while standing, as guests typically do at parties.

The wine cup has a wide rim and a small base for comfort in the hand, while the coffee cup has a dipped handle that doubles as a spout. The wave shape of the kaku/maru plate provides a natural grip.

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An uneven, somewhat spiky surface of sticks poking up from the seat of a chair doesn’t exactly make it a welcoming place to relax. But take a seat on one of these unusual chair designs by Annie Evelyn of New Colony Furniture and you’ll find it surprisingly soft. The chairs are ‘upholstered’ with rigid materials on top of foam to produce an illusion of discomfort.

Evelyn reclaims wooden chair frames, lines the seats and backs with foam, and painstakingly covers these surfaces with small pieces of hard materials that give way when pressure is applied. With this technique, she’s able to make cracked cement, tiles and faceted pieces of wood into exceptionally comfortable seating surfaces. Instead of poking you, those sticks will cradle the curves of your body.

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Evelyn has been developing her unusual furniture upholstery techniques since she was a student. Other works in her portfolio display a sense of humor about seating, with an ‘impolite chair’ boasting a built-in whoopee cushion, and a piece entitled ‘Sit on My Finger’ that’s a tiny chair you wear as a ring.

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A cluttered house is the perfect hiding place for keys, mobile phones, pens and other important objects, but these delightful pointers help you keep track of important objects even through a mess.

The pointers are appropriately called Pointer Here. They were designed by Anna and Maxim Maximov of Maximovich Design as a kind of analog version of those electronic key finding devices.Each features a small circle that sits on a flat surface and presumably surrounds the item you don’t want to lose. A piece stands up from the circle, rising above the stuff around it to point the way.

Although simple in design, these clever markers are a neat solution for people who just can’t seem to keep track of the important little things they need. Of course, remembering to put the little things under the markers so you can find them might be another problem altogether.

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For nearly all of us, our involvement with the design and construction of our furniture ends with putting together an IKEA cupboard or repainting an old table. Designer Marijn van der Poll designed the Do Hit chair, which requires not only your participation but your muscle to shape it into the perfect seat for you.

The chair comes as a big block of stainless steel and is accompanied by a mallet. Upon receiving the chair, you have a go at the metal with the mallet, shaping the seat blow by blow. Although van der Poll says that the chair is physically difficult to shape with the heavy mallet, he believes that anyone can do it.

Based on the video above, it takes a lot of hard physical labor to turn the cube of stainless steel into a suitable seat. Maybe that physical experience, shaping the seat into the perfect one for you, will contribute to a more meaningful connection to your furniture. You will forever be able to look at that big dented chunk of metal and know that you created it.

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In general, we can expect certain things from homes – things like interior walls and exterior yards. The Maracana House in Sao Paulo, Brazil – designed by Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados – features a unique inside-out design with an interior that looks more like an exterior.

The home features an interior balcony that looks out over the open layout of the ground level. As you ascend from the ground level up, chain-link fencing offers a physical, but not a visual, barrier. This unusual choice of material lends to the feeling of being outdoors.

But even more than the open floor plan and the chain-link fencing, the factors that make the interior of the home feel like being in the outdoors are the exposed bricks and numerous plants.

An atrium occupies one corner of the ground floor, highlighting the trees and other greenery growing under the warm Brazilian sun. Trailing vines can be found in various spots around the interior, making the home look like a garden.

The entire front wall of the home is a sliding glass wall which opens up to the street. Just outside, a hammock and lounging area give the residents a place to sit back and enjoy their remarkable inside-out home.

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The beauty of nature and all of its creatures is widely celebrated, but there is also something to be said for the odd beauty of imperfection.  Lanzavecchia + Wai‘s series of Mutazoni rugs depict two fictitious insects that, in the minds of the designers, were distorted and deformed by the actions of mankind.

The first invented species is called Tacua Fukushimae, imagined to have been created by the Fukushima disaster. It’s a strangely lovely cicada with uneven eyes and a number of other deformities. While natural insects display a large amount of symmetry, the insects in this unique series are more like a “spot the difference” game between the two halves of each insect.

This beetle is called Amaurodes Chernobilis, a bug imagined to have been the result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Like the cicada, the beetle is deformed by its unfortunate past. The imagined insects may not be perfect, but they are adorably quirky and the rugs look so soft that we wouldn’t mind having bugs on the floor.

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An inflatable concrete building sounds a bit ludicrous – until you see the seemingly-magical construction of a Concrete Canvas shelter. Concrete Canvas, a UK company, has created shelters that combine a less durable material – canvas – with one of the most durable materials of all – concrete.

The canvas is impregnated with concrete but remains flexible as the shelter is deployed to its location. Once there, the shelter is unfolded and inflated with a fan. The fully-inflated building is sprayed with water to activate and harden the concrete hiding within the fibers of the canvas.

Within 12 to 24 hours, the structure is cured and ready to use. After the concrete hardens, it is resistant to fire, water and the elements. In a dangerous location, such as a war zone, the structure can be surrounded and covered with dirt to further protect it and its inhabitants from harm. With or without extra fortification, the buildings can be expected to last for around ten years.

Although the obvious application for a rapidly-deployable, super-tough structure like this would be for military operations, there are hundreds of other cases in which a Concrete Canvas building could be incredibly useful. Disaster relief operations could quickly create temporary homes for displaced families after a disaster with little more than delivery equipment, a fan and a water hose.

According to the manufacturer, Concrete Canvas shelters can be thought of as “inflatable concrete buildings.” A typical building can be built by two people in under an hour without any specialized training – something that most other emergency shelters couldn’t even begin to compare with. The shelters aren’t yet available for consumer use, but just imagine the possibilities of buying your own piece of land, throwing up a concrete structure and living in one of these surprisingly roomy, civilized-looking buildings.

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In order to get the party started fast, these beverage containers cannot be placed upright on a surface – you have to finish your drink before you set them down.

Some might call it impractical, and perhaps it is, but it also provides an entertaining way to get your guests talking – and forcing them to interact if they need to put down their glass before it is dry.

This set of mouth-blown champagne, wine and martini glasses, dubbed Baccic by their designer Joe Doucet (images by Kendall Mills), were part of the PLAY exhibit for New York Design Week, “which tackles the relationship between design and “play” through a series of concepts that re-imagine our interaction with the digital world, re-invent our perspectives on furniture and space, revamp some old-school modes of play and realize the potential of playing with some friends.”

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The ultimate test of any mobile home design is the cubic footage it occupies when on the road versus when it is deployed, and on that metric, this new Doubleback is definitely a winning idea.

The flip-top is a familiar element in many travel vans, but the pull-out back is a lightweight yet robust way to effectively double the space found in the back of the vehicle.

Back supports drop down to support the extension when it is pulled out. Unlike many more flimsy variants, this added area can support hundreds of pounds of weight and packs up in seconds.

A very basic kitchen, some seating and beds are all it boasts, but realistically, for a minivan, that is far more than a camper can generally expect, even a classic like the VW Transporter can barely fit in the essentials.

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It looks so realistic you could almost sit in it … and, it turns out, you can. But the trick is no mere optical illusion – the painting really does sit flat until activated by interaction.

Studio YOY (images by Yasuko Furukawa) created this Canvas series using a combination of wood, aluminum and flexible fabric, screen-printing the surface with drawings reflecting underlying functionality.

As someone sits down, trusting it to work, the “canvas” stretches, deforming under their weight, while a hidden surface supports them.

In addition to the chair, a lounger and love seat variant add some comfortable and multi-person playfulness to the mix.

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