bentu design + guangzhou fine arts students shape sofa from concrete

bentu design + guangzhou fine arts students shape sofa from concrete
all images courtesy of bentu design

the traditional methods for shaping concrete require a wooden formwork that determines the final aesthetic. once the aggregate mixture has been poured into the enclosure, which has been lined with a release agent, craftsmen are expected to wait for the curing process to take place. the surrounding pieces must then be removed to reveal the negative space of the interior cavity. with knowledge of this technique, bentu design questioned, ‘what if we make a sofa out of concrete?’ the result is an experimental work of art that was collectively completed with the students of the guangzhou academy of fine arts from china.

side views

as opposed to pouring the substance into a shape, the group used it to cover an existing furnishing. the project successfully preserves all of the existing details and ornamentation, while presenting the natural properties of the outer material. the curvature of the handrails, the petals of the roses, and the pleating of the cushioning are still intricately articulated.

bottom of the seat

the top of the artwork

detail of the handrail

texture of the cushioning

details of the final product

the existing conditions of the furniture

applying a layer of concrete

working process

the fully covered sofa

creating the aggregate mixture

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.