Morphing, Modular Furniture of the Future: Tetris-like Stacking + LEGOish Shelves (VIDEO)

If our future homes are urban, compact and temporary, than the furniture of the future will look something like BrickBox. These modular units function both as shelves and moving and/or storage boxes. They can be stacked like bricks -- or LEGOS -- and fit into any sized apartment, even in tough spots like under the stairs. Stacked high enough, they can create a wall and divide an apartment or office into separate spaces, or even rooms.

Industrial designer Antxon Salvador came up with the idea while writing a book on Spanish cinema 11 years ago. As he bought more and more books and DVDs for research, he had an ever-expanding need for shelving. He couldn't find a high quality modular shelving system so he decided to create one and BrickBox was born.

Given his nomadic nature, Salvador created shelves that individually serve as boxes for moving and storage, but together they can be stacked and interlocked to create custom-sized shelving without the need of any screws. You can also add wheels and create mobile shelving or even a rolling coffee table. Since the "boxes" are made from high quality laminated birch plywood, they are sturdy so shelves can be stacked high enough to create a wall, or to create load-bearing furniture like chairs, benches and tables.

Currently, they are only for sale in Europe (at €39.95 for the large and €29.95 for the small), but Salvador and his business partner Roger Zanni are currently looking for a U.S. distributor; they believe the BrickBox system fits well with the American easy of housing mobility.

Watch Kirsten's feature-length documentary on tiny homes, "We the Tiny House People: Small Homes, Tiny Flats & Wee Shelters in the Old and New World."