5 Things

For the Design Conscious

photo courtesy: MIT Media Lab

Stackable Car

In the case of the Stackable Car (currently being developed by researchers at the MIT Media Lab), less really is more. Cutting-edge wheels that rotate 360 degrees also house individual motors that power the car in lieu of a traditional engine. The result is a compact city car with minimal pollution output and infinite parking options. Web.mit.edu, $TBA

photo courtesy: Ona

The Quad

Constructed of laminated plywood and powder-coated metal, the Quad shelving unit turns traditional bookcase design on its head. Its diagonal lines and oversized spaces create the perfect fusion of function and form, and liven any home or corporate office. Ona.com, $1,160

photo courtesy: Contraforma

10-Legged Rocking Chair

Europeans have been at the frontline of cutting edge furniture design for years. And the young Lithuanian designers at Contraforma are no exception. Their latest creation, Ku Dir Ka, puts a new spin on an old favorite, the trusty rocking chair. Contraforma.com, $495

photo courtesy: Mio

Bendant Lamp

About the only thing better than a well-designed product is one you design yourself. Mio Culture’s Bendant lamp ships flat and unassembled, putting the user in the driver’s seat to build his or her own custom creation. Mioculture.com, $165

photo courtesy: Loftcube

Mobile Home

Move over trailer homes. Here comes something loftier. With a respectable 420-square-foot interior, the handsome Loftcube can be outfitted with all the conveniences of a modern condo or office space, and fits snuggly on most rooftops or backyards. And bonus: each wall can be custom-fit with transparent, translucent or wooden louver windows, providing all the privacy you may or may not want. Loftcube.net, $111,000 to $180,000

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