Tech house of the future: take a look around

Smart ovens, living carpets, robot butlers and beds that remind you to have sex - then make themselves. Welcome to your home of tomorrow

Grab the keys and get set to unpack your boxes. It's time to move into the future. But before you cross the threshold and command your robo-butler to get the kettle on, take a moment to stand back and admire this feat of engineering.

First off, traditional clay bricks are out. Future houses are likely to be eco-friendly, eschewing CO^2-heavy manufacturing processes. Your home might incorporate building blocks constructed from natural cement churned out by bacteria (1), or be fashioned from fungi - indeed several companies including MycoWorks and EvocativeDesign are exploring the potential of mushroom-based materials. Alternatively, if retro-chic is your thing, super-insulating straw-bale panels appear to be in for a renaissance, while new developments with aerogels also promise a well-insulated abode.