What Is This?

This intricate metal structure is functional and flexible. Could it be a new kind of industrial skin, with wide-ranging real-world applications? The surface to a Borg Cube? Simple scaffolding? None, actually. It’s far more comfortable that any of those.

It’s a XXXX_sofa, designed and assembled by Yuya Ushida.

There’s also a stool version, and both are being produced by Dutch furniture company Royal Ahrend NV. All models fold out and grow thanks to the flexible, interlocking stick and ring pieces.

The original handmade model was assembled using 8,000 bamboo sticks and 2,000 rings. I imagine it took a very, very long time to complete. [Dezeen]