Cool Stuff: Molo Design Softseating

I was so intrigued by the Softseating at Oakland's FiveTen Studio that I wanted to give you all a closer look at this really clever product:

Created by Vancouver, British Columbia design studio Molo and constructed entirely from honeycombed, 50-percent-recycled kraft paper (or white textile material, as shown at top), the Softseating fans open into any number of shapes and configurations -- stools, poufs, benches, loungers, chaises, and even chairs, couches, and sectionals. It's like a Slinky you can sit on.

Each unit can also be linked to others with the aid of magnetic closures. Despite the inherent delicacy of the material, its honeycombed structure imparts amazing flexibility and strength -- it easily snakes into myriad shapes, loops over and around itself, and props against a wall or another unit to form contoured seating, all while supporting the weight of several adults. And when you don't need it, simply fold the seating flat and store it away.

It's simple, sculptural -- and, if you ask me, sheer genius. I'm not the only one who thinks so, either: The Softseating collection was just acquired by New York's Museum of Modern Art for its permanent collection.

Molo Design's kraft paper Softseating comes in eight sizes in either natural or black, and is available online from Velocity for $120 to $2,370 per piece.