Upon first inspection of this photo, I was rather surprised to see this leather chesterfield sofa sitting out in a yard, but I was smitten by the seemingly unconventional light gray hue of the leather. As it turns out, this couch isn't leather at all. Can you guess what material it's made from?
Concrete! As part of 100% Design London, Gray Concrete made this chesterfield sofa to show off the versatility of concrete. They used a mold of a real sofa (complete with bum prints) to make their version. There's even a coin stuck to one of the cushions to enhance the effect.
If you've been looking for that unique piece of lawn furniture, this sofa is available for purchase from Gray Concrete…just beware of the cost of shipping!
Image credits: Esther Clayton; found via Design Milk
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shiver me timbers...
I'm pretty sure I saw two of these in a little pocket park in Ballard (that is a neighborhood for all of you non-Seattlites). Maybe there is an American artist doing something similar?
Kiddofish: Where in Ballard? I want to check them out!
Cool - there's a sweet, leggy, camelback sofa coated with ferrocement or stucco with a fabulous glass marble/stone design created on the surface that I've seen the past couple of years when I visit family in small-town TN.
I covet something like that for my back yard.
very cool
I pity the person who flops down on it expecting down-filled gray leather...
I love this! this summer we've had some real sofas in our garden (found in the street in good condition), but even the end of summer rain has begun their demise...
I want that sofa without the bottom cushions so I can buy some outdoor cushions from World Market and outdoor throw pillows and lay in my backyard and read!!!
In don't know about this. I admire the skill and attention to detail but a sofa sitting out in the yard just gives off a hillbilly vibe.
17th Ave NW between NW 62nd & 63rd in Ballard...
I love this!!
Hillbilly. Really? This term dates back to the 1950s. Isn't it time to let go of these derogatory pre-Civil-Rights terms? Even when they refer to "white people", they're still racist/classist and bigoted.
In Gresham Oregon we have a whole painted concrete living room set by a transit center; complete with an old television, couch, arm chair and lamp. Unforunately the last I heard it was being removed because of too many injuries from people think they are jumping in to a plush couch.
I already had this idea years ago! I just never did anything about it... Like most things in my life, I sweep them under the creative carpet.
I must be a hillbilly because I think this is big fun.
@kjansson--I just laughed out loud. I'm right there with you. My creative carpet is bulging with the dust bunnies of my imagination.
These might be comfier - well, bouncier, at least:
http://www.design-conscious.co.uk/mall/designconscious/products/product-815905.stm
This is definitely one for the "just because you can ..." files!
that is awesome. a concrete sofa? who knew?
To admire the versatility of concrete, you just have to go to a cemetery.
I appreciate the whimsy of this, although I doubt I'd want it in my backyard (though sleggo had a good idea about putting soft cushions on it). It would make fun seating for a bus shelter, too.
There's a similar-looking sofa made of limestone in Columbus, Ohio. It's a sculpture by Robert Huff.
This looks fantastic, but the first thought I had was that with the first few rains of autumn, moss and sime would grow in all those button holes and folds. And it's not exactly the kind of piece you can just move undercover when it rains.
amazing details :-)
but not comfy :-(
At first glance I thought it was rubber. Somehow this idea seems much more comfortable... and durable for the outdoors. It could be grey, but also tons of other colors.
If they could use that same mold but make it out of rubber, THAT would be worth putting in my yard! (if I had one).
All I can think about is how COLD it would be in winter time. ... and how it'd collect snow and rain and be an entirely puddle-filled un-sit-able feature after a while.
Great to look at (really great, I love the detail), but not to sit in.
@kkr - important distinction! You could really foul a project by using concrete when you needed cement - or vice versa.
Love concrete, love this:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/chesterfield-sofa-made-from-an-unexpected-material-126229
And wish I could find an example of someone who had covered an old sofa in some kind of cementitious material - I've seen one completed with mosaic pebbles, and want to try it myself someday! There a lovely one outside a secondhand shop in Cowan, TN. Keep trying to find someone to tell me how it was made; no luck so far.
Dang - was just looking up this post to copy/paste on a new AT article, and instead commented here instead of there. Thus the irrelevance and/or redundancy above.