a real sucker

as a sucker (heh heh) for sea creatures and anything that looks like latex or leather, the monochromatic octopus chair by spanish designer/artist máximo riera is an instant object of desire. accurately described on his website as 'ancient marine life sculpted by modernity' this invertebrate chaise is indeed as much an artistic achievement as it is a tech engineered masterpiece. from the sprawling lifelike tentacles to the luxe texture (the art direction of the photographs play a big part), this mysterious and slightly gothic looking piece of furniture would fit swimmingly in a directional hi-end retail space or....my future home in 2020 (i imagine a shoe closet and just this singular chair, and maybe a crockpot).
surprisingly, it is actually available for purchase as a limited edition on riera's website, but before you take out a bank loan, or start counting your secret stash of hundreds, keep in mind the octopus chair is only the first in line of riera's 15 piece animal chairs collection. still to be released: rhino, lion, beetle, walrus and *gasp, WHALE (i can only hope it's a killer).
with the help of the hi-tech manufacturing company who work for the likes of zaha hadid and CHANEL, the original sketches of the octopus chair were able to be intepreted into the finished product using 'computer numerical control,' a program that basically translates 3D digital renderings into precise sculptural replicas using compressed foam. the pieces were then assembled, glued, sanded down, and finally hand painted into the biologically correct, pebble leather-like, functional chair below:





all photos and info from here